Buhari to Politicians: Forget rigging in 2023, I’ll defend ballot boxes

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised those planning to rig the 2023 general election to perish the thought.

The President vowed to use every legitimate means to protect the votes of Nigerians.

“Those planning to rig the forthcoming elections should think twice because I intend to resolutely protect and defend the sacred will of the Nigerian people, to be expressed through the ballot box,” the President declared at an Iftar dinner with members of the Diplomatic Corps on Thursday in Abuja.

President Buhari also cautioned against foreign interference in the forthcoming elections.

“As you are all aware, the tenure of this administration ends on 29th May, 2023. Typical of election years all over the world, the tempo of political activities is often high.

“That is the nature of democracy. I am committed to bequeathing a stronger culture of credible elections to Nigeria than I met.

“As Nigeria goes through this trajectory, I urge our friends in the global community, represented by you the Diplomatic Corps, to adopt a positive role that reinforces the doctrine of respect for our internal affairs and respect for facts and devoid of pre-conceived notions and bias,” he said.

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Addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Nigerian leader called for greater consideration for humanitarian conditions in the affected areas in the ongoing crisis, warning that the conflict will get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found.

“The war has lasted too long, cost so much and hurt too many people, well beyond the immediate theatres.

“The rest of the world is progressively facing the impact of the conflict and this will certainly get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found, not least in the area of food security,” Buhari said.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Amb. Ibrahima Salaheddine, pledged that the international community would continue to support Nigeria before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

“As Nigeria enters another electoral year, we pray almighty Allah to put the electoral process under divine guidance for peaceful, free and fair elections,” he said.

Amb. Salaheddine, who described this year’s Iftah as special, noted that due to COVID-19 the tradition of meeting the President for the breaking of fast did not hold for two years.

He, therefore, congratulated the Nigerian government for curtailing the spread of the pandemic, saying the “enlightened leadership” of President Buhari has largely brought its spread in Nigeria under control.

The Star