President Muhammadu Buhari says the forthcoming 2023 general elections would affirm the institutional maturity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari said this when he received a high-powered delegation from Nasarawa led by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
According to him, the successful conduct of the three off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States had confirmed his administration’s irreversible commitment to credible and violence-free polls in the country.
He therefore assured that the commission will deliver acceptable, credible and violence-free elections to Nigerians.
The President further urged the electorate to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections to ensure continuity in the polity and stability in the country and West African region.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President told the delegation that the Electoral Act he signed earlier in the year was an attestation of the fulfilment of the administration’s determination and commitment to the tenets of the rule of law.
“On the issues of credible, free and fair elections in the country, I have always re-assured my listeners, both at home and abroad, my personal desire and indeed the priority of this administration is to bequeath to our nation an irreversible political process that continues to be both democratic and acceptable to the people.
“My desire for our nation is that the 2023 elections should clearly mark the commencement of the institutional strength of our electoral body in conducting acceptable, credible and violence-free elections.
“The forthcoming general elections will provide us with the opportunity to convince the electorate on the need for continuity to enable our party to consolidate on our achievements in the last 7 years.
“The Government and people of Nasarawa State, as usual, have a great role to play in returning our party to governance in the 2023 elections, in order to create a path for greater socio- economic growth and development. This is not only important for Nigeria alone but also for the West African Sub-Region”, he said.
