2019: Era of just awarding votes over – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari said that Nigeria has left the era in which democratic norms are brazenly subverted, with votes awarded to those favoured by the authorities, and the shortchanged told to go to court.
Buhari said this yesterday when members of the Joint United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS Good Offices Mission on Elections visited him at Abuja.
Buhari was quoted in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, as saying: “I am highly qualified to talk on this, having ended in Supreme Court three times, after participating in elections with disputed results. Where will a man looking for where his next meal would come from have money to hire lawyers, particularly senior advocates?”
He said the 2019 polls would the State House Villa, be free and fair, adding that “The President has only one vote, governors have a vote each, just like anybody else. Let the people vote for whoever they choose, without their will being tampered with,” he said.
While thanking the team for being in touch with Nigeria’s institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he said multi-party democracy gives lots of choice to the people.
“Nigeria has a vibrant young population who trust us to handle their affairs and resources well. A lot depends on leadership,” he said.
President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Brou, said the team came on a solidarity visit to Nigeria before the forthcoming elections, as it did with Senegal, Mali, Gambia, and others where polls recently held.
He appreciated the strong role Nigeria plays in the subregion, while also thanking President Buhari for his strides in the fight against corruption and terrorism.
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, speaking on behalf of the UN, appreciated what he called “the strong leadership of President Buhari in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.”
“You’ve always played politics according to the rules. We will do all that we can to strengthen the institutions. We’re convinced that INEC is ready to provide free and fair elections,” Dr Chambas said.