President Muhammadu Buhari has warned anyone making plans to rig the 2023 elections to reconsider, saying he will ensure that the will of Nigerians prevails.
He said this on Thursday during an iftar organised for members of the diplomatic corps.
According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari also advised foreign observers to be cautious about their positions during the elections to avoid bias.
“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,” he was quoted as saying.
“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 preconceived notions and bias.”
Speaking on his efforts to address insurgency, Buhari said his administration has recorded major progress in the northeast.
“As you know well, Nigeria has made significant progress in combating the Boko Haram group in the northeast,” he said.
“We are, however, recently confronted with new tactics deployed by the enemy to threaten our democratic values, as well as the common peace and freedom we enjoy in this country.”
While commending the efforts of security agencies, he gave the assurance that the insecurity will be effectively addressed.
