President Muhammadu Buhari has on Thursday said he was committed to the free and fair governorship election in Edo State, warning political parties, candidates, agents, and security officials against "do-or-die" politics. This was disclosed in a message to voters, electoral officials, and political parties titled "Edo election: President Buhari urges parties, candidates, security agents to behave responsibly." issued by Garba Shehu, the President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in Abuja.
"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.”
He urged security personnel to "remain neutral to ensure free and fair elections and avoid any action(s) capable of compromising the integrity of the elections."
"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," the statement also read.
Similarly, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the president while receiving President Roch Kabore of Burkina Faso promised to support smooth elections in West African countries.
"We are keeping tabs on situations in countries that have elections ahead. We know the countries that are calm and the ones where there have been unfortunate casualties,
"We will always support those who have elections ahead, so that things can go smoothly," Buhari said.
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