Buhari Assures Votes ‘ll Count In 2023

BY EDMOND ODOK – With scepticisms reigning in many quarters about the 2023 general elections in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has again assured Nigerians and the global community that his administration will strengthen all necessary mechanisms to ensure another peaceful transition power.

According to the President’s pledge, the 2023 general elections will be free and fair while Nigeria will continue to support democratisation processes in West Africa and the African continent as a whole.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina said President Buhari made the promise at a virtual summit for democracy organised by the United States President, Joe Biden

The statement quoted the President as telling participants; “As we countdown to our next general elections in 2023, we remain committed to putting in place and strengthening all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Nigeria will not only record another peaceful transfer of power to an elected democratic government but will also ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

“Your Excellencies, Nigeria will continue to actively support the democratisation processes in our region West Africa and the African continent at large. But regrettably, our democratic gains of the past decades are under threats of an unconstitutional takeover of power.

“This unwholesome trend, sometimes in reaction to unilateral amendments of constitutions by some leaders, must not be tolerated by the international community.”

Reiterating the country’s commitment to all existing protocols aimed at driving the democratic processes across the sub-region, President Buhari said; “Nigeria fully supports the efforts by ECOWAS to address this growing challenge and appreciates the support of both the African Union and the United Nations.”