Free And Fair Polls: I’ll Give My Opponents The Opportunities I Didn’t Have – President Buhari

Free And Fair Polls: I’ll Give My Opponents The Opportunities I Didn’t Have – President Buhari

President Buhari has once again promised a level playing field for
all contestants into political offices in next year’s elections.

Receiving a delegation from International Republican and National
Democratic Institute, United States of America, at State House, Abuja,
on Monday, the President said:

“I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It
reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry,
before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for
stability in developing countries.

“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 tell 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.”

President Buhari assured the visitors that he had told the heads of
the security agencies not to be partisan, but to do their work
professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Stressing that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) would
keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the
economy, and fighting corruption. The President said he was happy that
the opposition has not been able to successfully fault the focal areas
of the government.

“We have done fairly well in the areas we focussed 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.”

On the Electoral Bill that was not assented to, the President said:
“Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful
that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being
transmitted electronically. Even the Russians were accused of tampering
with American election, so we will remain conventional, and use
electronic transmission in subsequent elections.”

Leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas
Greenfield, said they had met with the media, civil society, and
political parties, and concerns expressed include fears of security
agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections, suspected
non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, delayed
budget for the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.