President Muhammadu Buhari has pledge to provide a level playing ground for the opposition party in the forthcoming election, the type himself has never enjoyed on the four occasions he had run for presidency. The president stated this when a delegation from International Republican and National Democratic Institutes, both from the united States of America paid him a visit yesterday.
The presidential election is slated for February 16, 2019 with 74 candidates vying to participate. However, the country are more interested in the two candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress ( APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr, President informed the visitors that he was glad they came to assess Nigeria pre-election. It reminds him of the visit by the then secretary of state, John Kerry, before the 2015 election. Mr, president appreciate the concern of America for the stability in developing countries.
In a statement released by Femi Adesina, Presidential spokesperson, that “Having run for president three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.
“What they used to do was just to award votes, and tells anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past,”
Mr, President assured the visitors that he has warned security Agencies to be neutral, but display professionalism through allowing the will of electorates to prevail.
He reiterated the commitment of the ruling party to be driven by its manifesto’s of securing the country, revamping the economy, and zero tolerance to corruption. He commend the opposition for not faulting his administration of derailing from its manifesto’s.
He further stated, “We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the North-east were under Boko Haram occupation before we came.
“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers. Other areas of security challenge like farmers/herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible,”
Speaking on electoral bill, Mr, President added “Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and there is need to be careful so that Election information is not hijacked while is being transmitted electronically” citing an example of American election that Russia was accused of tempering with the result. He affirmed the country electoral empire to remain conventional for now. He however promised to use it in a subsequent election.
Leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, said they had met civil society, media and political parties; he expressed his concern to include fears of security agencies being inclined in the forthcoming election. He added suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, is also thing of concern.
