President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, other top officials of the electoral body, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, stressing that he is determined to give Nigeria an electoral system that meets with best practices anywhere in the world.
Accordingly, the President directed the Electoral Commission and the Police boss to get their acts right, and leave no room for underhand tricks or manipulation in the conduct of elections in the country.
He specifically charged the electoral umpire to stick to the rules of fair play and adherence to justice.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that thus is part of the resolve of President Buhari to engender a free, fair and credible electoral process in the country.
The President further told INEC which has a minimum of 28 rerun and by-elections this January alone, to ensure that the game is played by the rules, without fear or favour.
In the words of Buhari; “Those that you declare as winners must be the candidates that the people have chosen. Democracy is about free will, and the will of the people must be allowed to prevail.”
Turning to the IGP, President Buhari said that he wants nothing than a scrupulous securing of the electoral process, without bias or favouritism by the police.
He further said; “Our elections must be done in violence-free atmosphere. The process must be free, fair, decent, devoid of intimidation or malpractices.
“It is the duty of the police to accomplish that, and it is what I expect in the elections immediately ahead, and going forward,” he said.
Both INEC and the police pledged a fidelity to the rules and regulations, stating that they know President Buhari as someone passionately committed to fair play.