Politics
Go beyond promises, leave a legacy of free, fair elections – CNPP tasks Buhari
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) earlier in the week challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond promises and leave a legacy of transparent, free, and fair elections in Nigeria.
President Buhari on a virtual summit for democracy, organised by President Joe Biden of the United States last Friday, promised Nigerians and the international community that he would guarantee free and fair elections in 2023, assuring peaceful transfer of power to another administration after his tenure.
The CNPP had, accordingly, enjoined the president to make stick to his promise on free and fair elections in 2023 as a worthy legacy after his eight years in office.
The CNPP in a statement by the Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, impressed on President Buhari to go beyond promises and pledges “and leave a legacy of free and fair elections.”
The CNPP further demanded the President to “as a matter of unforgettable legacy, sign the electoral act amendments into law without fear or favour.”
The CNPP in the statement declared: “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.”