The United Kingdom (UK) has assured Nigeria that it would not interfere in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing, who made the commitment, said her country would rather remain neutral in the conduct of the poll.
She spoke in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital during an interaction with journalists.
The envoy was flanked by her host, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, at the event held at the Abdulsalami Abubakar Press Centre in Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
She said what Britain was concerned about was the conduct of free and fair elections that would lead to a smooth transition of power in the country.
The high commissioner lamented that though UK government has cherished democracy and democratic norms in countries of the world, democracy has been truncated in some African nations as a result of military intervention.
She said her country was ready to cooperate and give support as well as work with whoever emerges as president of Nigeria come 2023.
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Laing who ranked Nigeria as the largest democratic nation on African continent emphasised that the outcome of the 2023 general election would have an impact on Africa, the commonwealth and the entire world.
She also told journalists that this was her first visit to the state and was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere of the state and socio-economic development enabled by the state governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
She added that with what she saw in Kebbi State, the British government is willing to explore areas of cooperation and partnership on investment in the state.
Laing thanked the government and people of the state and Nigeria as a whole for their condolences on the demise of Queen Elizabeth 11 as well as the congratulations on the ascension to the throne of the British Monarchy by King Charles 111.