Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of violence in the aftermath of Nigeria's presidential and legislative elections.

The 2023 elections will be a significant test of Nigeria's democracy with the whole country facing multiple, complex security challenges. I [Minister Mitchell] met the leading presidential candidates in December and January and discussed the importance of free and safe elections. We are committed to supporting Nigeria through our diplomatic engagement, technical advice, programmes and election observation. Our civil society partners are working with different media organisations to counter disinformation, and my officials have conducted scenario-planning work to prepare for a range of outcomes and risks. The UK Government will continue to raise the importance of political parties, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission working together to ensure peaceful elections.