Press Release

President Bush Has Not Corresponded With President Obasanjo Concerning A Mandate Extension

November 21, 2005

President Bush has not corresponded with President Obasanjo concerning a mandate extension to allow President Obasanjo to be considered a candidate in the Nigerian presidential elections in 2007.

The United States and Nigeria are close friends and partners and there is continuous communication at all levels between our two countries.

We have strongly supported Nigeria's transition to democracy beginning in 1999 and see the scheduled 2007 elections as an essential next step in Nigeria's democratic evolution.

End