Buhari Warns Against Violence After Election Results Announcement

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerians and voters against taking laws into their hands after the announcement of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral body will conduct the presidential election taking place on Saturday, February 25, 2023, and it is being contested by 18 candidates, of which three are the major contenders; Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Mr Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Mr Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

There has been an unprecedented interest of young Nigerians in this year’s exercise, with the majority of them rooting for a change, and Mr Obi is tipped to make this happen.

But Mr Buhari, in a message ahead of the poll, urged voters to accept the outcome of the exercise, cautioning them against any form of violence.

“Since my assumption of office, we have worked so hard to ensure that we pass on a legacy of free, fair, credible, safe, and peaceful elections. We will continue to act with neutrality and allow the rule of law to take precedence over political expediency.

”We have demonstrated that with the off-cycle elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States. We allowed Nigerians to decide who should govern them. We are committed to this legacy in this administration.

“I am asking @inecnigeria, the security agencies, and all other relevant institutions to be firm and courageous and to abide by the laws and constitutional provisions in conducting the elections. You are assured of this administration’s full and continuous support.

“We must constantly improve our electoral process using technology and all the positive elements it brings to consolidate the integrity of our elections.

“I urge the candidates contesting these elections at all levels to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the elections as announced by @inecnigeria, the agency empowered by law to do so.

“Any aggrieved candidate should resort to the established judicial processes, and we must have the confidence to trust our legal systems.

“Let me remind all Nigerians, not for the first time, that this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to keep it safe, united and peaceful.

“There should be no riots or acts of violence after the announcement of the election results. All grievances, personal or institutional, should be channelled to the relevant courts,” the President said in his message.