{"id":64770,"date":"2019-02-13T15:07:07","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T14:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=64770"},"modified":"2019-02-13T15:07:07","modified_gmt":"2019-02-13T14:07:07","slug":"election-2019-be-neutral-and-fair-atiku-tells-security-agencies-inec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/election-2019-be-neutral-and-fair-atiku-tells-security-agencies-inec\/","title":{"rendered":"ELECTION 2019: Be Neutral And Fair, Atiku Tells Security Agencies, INEC"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku
\nAbubakar, has urged all the security agencies including the Independent
\nNational Electoral Commission, INEC, to be neutral and fair in the
\nupcoming elections.<\/p>\n

Atiku who made the charge in his speech delivered at the signing ceremony
\nof the Peace Accord said even though there are concerns of voter
\nintimidations and malpractices, he is confident security and electoral
\nofficials would do their jobs in accordance with their oath of office.<\/p>\n

Below is the full text of his speech<\/p>\n

BEING STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY ATIKU ABUBAKAR, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
\nOF PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA, 1999-2007 AT
\nTHE 2ND SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE PEACE ACCORD IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY, 13TH
\nFEBRUARY 2019<\/p>\n

Protocols<\/p>\n

May I use this opportunity to renew my profound gratitude, firstly to my
\nparty, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and then to General Abdulsalami
\nAbubakar and members of the Peace Committee for their tireless enthusiasm,
\ndedication, and passion towards ensuring the success of this Peace Accord
\nProcess!<\/p>\n

Our gathering here today clearly demonstrates the importance of the
\nupcoming elections as well as how our democracy has matured, not only to
\nour people, but also to the international community whose solidarity,
\nNigeria\u2019s democracy has benefited from.<\/p>\n

As we prepare to sign off on this Peace Accord, as representatives of our
\nparty and people, may I freely quote the words of former President
\nGoodluck Jonathan, which remains a benchmark, for me, taking into account
\nthe deep feelings that prevail as February 16th, 2019, approaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this context, I appeal once again to every staff and the leadership of
\nthe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria
\nPolice Force, to be fair arbiters in the upcoming elections while letting
\nneutrality prevail.<\/p>\n

For emphasis and in the spirit of fair play, I also urge our security
\nagencies, not to embark on indiscriminate arrests of members of the
\nopposition, 24 to 48 hours before elections, as has been the case in
\nprevious elections.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, our democracy should emerge stronger from this process with the
\n2019 elections proving better managed than the 2015 process, which was
\nadjudged free and fair with the then opposition\u2019s victory unobstructed<\/p>\n

Consequently, I also appeal to the President, General Buhari, to use his
\ngood offices to ensure that every eligible person who casts their vote is
\nconfident in the process and in the belief that their vote will count.<\/p>\n

Additionally, every candidate must remember that this election is about
\nthe future of Nigeria, therefore, we must abide by the will of the people
\nas freely expressed through elections, under the terms of our
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n

Once again, despite concerns expressed by my party leaders concerning
\nlikely electoral malpractices and the intimidation of voters and
\nobservers, I trust that our election officials and security services will
\ndo their duty in accordance with their oath and obligations.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, I appeal once again, to our citizens, to go out and cast
\ntheir votes for the candidates of their choice, to be peaceful at all
\ntimes, and confident in our democracy, its institutions and processes.
\nSo, please go out this Saturday to vote for your future and the future of
\nour great nation.<\/p>\n

May God bless you and God bless Nigeria<\/p>\n

Released By:<\/p>\n

Paul Ibe<\/p>\n

Media Adviser to HE Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of PDP & Vice
\nPresident of Nigeria, 1999-2007<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has urged all the security agencies including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be neutral and fair in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\nELECTION 2019: Be Neutral And Fair, Atiku Tells Security Agencies, INEC - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/election-2019-be-neutral-and-fair-atiku-tells-security-agencies-inec\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ELECTION 2019: Be Neutral And Fair, Atiku Tells Security Agencies, INEC - 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