Muhammadu Buhari to make his promise on free and fair elections in 2023
a worthy legacy he can leave behind after his eight years in office.
President Buhari had during a virtual summit for democracy organised by
President Joe Biden of the United States on Friday assured Nigerians and
the international community of free and fair elections in 2023, pledging
peaceful transfer of power to another administration after his tenure.
In its reaction to the pledge by the President on Sunday, the CNPP in a
statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said
President Buhari should go beyond promises and pledges “and leave a
legacy of free and fair elections.”
The CNPP therefore urged President Buhari to also “as a matter of
unforgettable legacy, sign the electoral act amendments into law without
fear or favour.”
According to the statement, “There are two remarkable legacies left
behind by President Goodluck Jonathan: he signed the Freedom of
Information Bill into law and conducted a free and fair elections that
saw an opposition party defeating a sitting President in Nigeria.
“Then President Jonathan went beyond that and conceded defeat even
before the announcement of the final results of the presidential
election in which he was a major and interested actor in, being a
sitting President.
“The world will always stand at attention for a true leader with a
democratic heart who is ready at all times to remain on the part of rule
of law, justice and equity.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to be such a leader in the
remaining days of his tenure and give Nigerians a credible, free and
fair elections in 2023.
“This call has become necessary in view of the fact that all promises
made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their presidential
candidate during the 2015 and 2019 electioneering campaigns were not
kept.
“For instance, today, Nigerians and the international communities,
including the government of the United Kingdom, have been urging
President Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act 2021 into law.
“His foot dragging attitude and the body language of the presidency cast
doubt on the sincerity of Mr. President to keep his promises on free and
fair elections in the country.
“It is also about time Nigerians saw electoral offenders in jail for
their roles in violating the sanctity of the electoral process or for
altering the will of the people during elections”, the CNPP concluded.