United States Presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton, has expressed disappointment at the turn of last month controversial elections in Nigeria regretting that the latest test of the country’s democratic institutions failed the citizens.

She said not only is she disappointed but that all the members of the United States Congress were disappointed at the outcome of the elections that were marred with fraud and irregularities.

But, she advised against losers and other stakeholders resorting to self help, commending the decision of them to take their complaints to the law courts for redress.

Clinton , in a statement issued in Washington, however, urged expeditious disposal of the court cases, so the country could move forward in the effort to fully institutionalize the hallmarks of democratic governance in the country.

She stressed that Nigeria was a country of great importance to the United States, adding: “I hope that as Nigeria’s democracy strengthens, so too will our bilateral relationship.”

The full text of the statement reads:

“In the wake of the April Nigerian elections, which international and domestic observers have judged to be deeply flawed, opposition leaders have wisely decided to take their complaints to the courts, rather than to the streets. I urge both Nigerians and the greater international community to allow the legal process to continue to its conclusion, peacefully and patiently. I, along with many of my colleagues in the United States Congress, was disappointed that the most recent test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions—national elections—failed that country’s citizens.

It is my hope that the judicial decisions regarding the outcome of these elections will be made expeditiously so that Nigerians from all political persuasions can move forward in their efforts to fully institutionalize the hallmarks of democratic governance, progress which I welcome and encourage. Nigeria is a country of great importance to the United States, and I hope that as Nigeria’s democracy strengthens, so too will our bilateral relationship.”