One of the legacies his government will bequeath to the country is a free, fair, and credible election, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
Buhari made the promise during his independence speech to Nigerians on Saturday, saying the recent elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states are testimony to his belief in a credible electoral process.
Except in Ekiti state where his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC won the governorship elections, opposition parties have won the governorship in Anambra and Osun states.
The president said one of the steps taken by his government to ensure that credible leaders emerged from the country’s electoral processes is the signing of the amended Electoral Act 2021.
“Fellow Nigerians, no matter what gains we make, without a good governance system anchored on electing credible leaders on the basis of free, fair, credible, and transparent elections, our efforts would not be enough,” Buhari said.
He said, “It is for this reason that I have resolved to bequeath a sustainable democratic culture, which will remain lasting. The signing of the Electoral Act 2021 as amended with landmark provisions further assures us of a more transparent and inclusive Electoral Process.
Having witnessed at close quarters, the pains, anguish, and disappointment of being a victim of an unfair electoral process, the pursuit of an electoral system and processes that guarantee the election of leaders by citizens remain the guiding light as I prepare to wind down our administration.
“You would all agree that the recent elections in the past two years in some states (notably Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun) and a few federal constituencies have shown a high degree of credibility, transparency, and freedom of choice with the people’s votes actually counting. This I promise would be improved upon as we move towards the 2023 General Elections.”
The president also urged contestants in next year’s election to conduct themselves well and avoid hate speech. He also called on the youths to take an active role in the forthcoming elections.
“As we begin the transition process to another democratically elected government, I want to implore all aspirants to conduct issues-based campaigns devoid of hate speeches as well as other negative and divisive tendencies.”
“I also want to express my wish that we see more female and youth participation in the forth-coming electoral cycle. I am sure that our teeming and energetic youths now realise that violence generally mar elections and so should desist from being used by politicians for this purpose,” Buhari said.
