L-R Abdulsalam Abubakar; President Buhari; Atiku Abubakar and Johnson Sirleaf at the second Peace accord signing
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Buhari, to use his good office to ensure that every eligible person who casts their vote is confident in the process and in the belief that their vote will count.
Atiku gave the charge on Wednesday in a statement after the signing of a second peace accord to usher in the presidential elections, about 48 hours away.
Concerned about the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force, “I appeal once again to every staff and the leadership of INEC and the Nigeria Police Force, to be fair arbiters in the upcoming elections while letting neutrality prevail”.
“For emphasis and in the spirit of fair play, I also urge our security agencies, not to embark on indiscriminate arrests of members of the opposition, 24 to 48hrs before elections, as has been the case in previous bye elections”.
The presidential candidate added that despite concerns expressed by his party leaders concerning likely electoral malpractices and the intimidation of voters and observers, “I trust that our election officials and security services will do their duty in accordance with their oath and obligations”.
“Hopefully, our democracy should emerge stronger from this process with the 2019 elections proving better managed than the 2015 process, which was adjudged free and fair with the oppositions victory unobstructed”, he added.
He however also appealed once more, to citizens to go out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice, to “be peaceful at all times and confident in our democracy, its institutions and processes”.
