Tobias Sylvester
President Muhammadu Buhari said he is committed to bequeathing the culture of free and fair elections during the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State Saturday.
According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said called on stakeholders to avoid what he called “do-or-die mentality.”
He also adviced electoral officials and security agents to be neutral while carrying out their duties during the Edo governorship election on Saturday.
“I am passionately committed to free and fair elections, but my own commitment is not enough if other actors at ground zero refuse to abide by the rules.
“I want to see democratic standards in the country raised higher at every level, but these cannot be achieved when politicians resort to do or die methods to gain power by any means or machination.”
“The do-or-die mentality to politics is a threat to free and fair elections because the actors are more focused on winning than caring about a fair outcome that reflects the Will of the people.”
The President appealed to all political parties and their candidates to behave peacefully and respect law and order.
He also advised election officials and security agents “to remain neutral to ensure free and fair elections and avoid any action(s) capable of compromising the integrity of the elections.”
Buhari stressed that “conducting free and fair elections is one of my main concerns for our democracy, and I want this commitment to be one of the legacies I will leave behind when I depart office.”
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has declared Friday as a work-free day, ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state.
