President Muhammadu Buhari has warned against any intentions of rigging the much anticipated 2023 general polls.
The president stated that preparations have been made to protect the votes of Nigerians at all cost, thus, thoughts of engaging in such acts should be avoided.
‘‘Those planning to rig the forthcoming elections should think twice because I intend to resolutely protect and defend the sacred will of the Nigerian people, to be expressed through the ballot box,’’ the President said.
In a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the president further urged foreign bodies to respect the internal affairs of the country by doing away with any pre-conceived stereotypes or biases.
‘‘As you are all aware, the tenure of this Administration ends on 29th May, 2023. Typical of election years all over the world, the tempo of political activities is often high.
‘‘That is the nature of democracy. I am committed to bequeathing a stronger culture of credible elections to Nigeria than I met.
‘‘As Nigeria goes through this trajectory, I urge our friends in the global community, represented by you the Diplomatic Corps, to adopt a positive role that reinforces the doctrine of respect for our internal affairs and respect for facts and devoid of pre-conceived notions and bias,’’ he said.
He went on to comment on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the world’s economy, adding that it has lasted for too long.
“The war has lasted too long, cost so much and hurt too many people, well beyond the immediate theatres. The rest of the world is progressively facing the impact of the conflict and this will certainly get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found, not least in the area of food security,” he said.
President Buhari also appreciated the United Nations’ effort towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, commending secretary-general, Antonio Gutteres for his initiatives on the best ways to end the war.
“The United Nations must continue to actively lead the way for engagements that could ultimately unlock peace through diplomacy,” he said.