The United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, yesterday met with the leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opponent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next month general election. The meeting was held at the U.S. Consular-General’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Secretary Kerry, who arrived in Lagos on Sunday, met behind closed door with the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the party National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation.

The opposition party leaders arrived at the Consular-General’s residence at exactly 2:51pm. They were received by the U.S. Embassy officials led by Ambassador James Entwistle, and Consular-General Jeffery Hawkins.

Kerry also met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday morning at the State House in Lagos on the preparation for the general elections holding next month.

The APC leaders were led into the building, where they met with Kerry. Reporters were barred from meeting, which lasted for about two hours. The opposition leaders left the Consular-General’s residence at 4:35pm without speaking to reporters.

After the meeting, Kerry addressed reporters on his mission in Nigeria, saying the U.S. was interested in peaceful conduct of the election and the end to Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

Kerry said he discussed extensively with major candidates in the election – President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari – on how to ensure peace before, during and after the election.

He said: “I met with President Jonathan earlier today (yesterday) and separately with Gen. Buhari. I was encouraged to hear once again from both men that, this is exactly what they intend to do; to try to press for election that would be held with credibility, which people of Nigeria want and deserve.”

The U.S. Secretary also spoke on telephone with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, wishing him well “on the onerous task of conducting an election that will be acceptable to all Nigerians and deemed credible by international community.”