President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated that the 2023 general elections would be free, fair, and credible, as manipulations would not be allowed in any form.
The President’s media aide, Malam Garba Shehu in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the president gave the assurance while hosting the West African Elders Forum Pre-Election Mediation Mission, led by former Sierra Leonean President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
”Thank you for accepting to do this service for our sub-region,” the president told his guests, citing off-season elections held in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States, as a pointer to the fact that the Federal Government would allow people to choose leaders of their choice.
He said: “That right is guaranteed. We are settling down, and making progress. People should vote for whomever they want, in whatever party.
”We shall not allow anyone to use money and thugs to intimidate the people.
” Nigerians know better now, they are wiser, and know that it is better to dialogue than to carry weapons. Elections are even more difficult to rig now.”
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In his remarks, former President Koroma said they had met with stakeholders across the parties, civil society, and Independent National Electoral Commission, among others.
He, however, commended the president for making it clear both locally and internationally that the elections would be free and fair.
He also lauded him for not listening to voices that might have tried to convince him to seek a third term in office, against the laws of the country, noting that “other countries look up to Nigeria for direction”.
“When we had issues in Sierra Leone and Liberia, it was Nigeria that came in to stabilize the system,” the former president said.
He urged the Nigerian leader to look into other areas of concern as raised by the stakeholders, including security, and issues that could cast doubts on the clarity and credibility of the elections.
Other members of the team include Fatoumata Tambajang, former Vice President of The Gambia, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
