President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians and the international community that the 2023 general elections will be free and fair, with a peaceful transfer of power.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the president’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Adesina, said the president gave the guarantee during a speech at a Virtual Summit for Democracy hosted by US Vice President Joe Biden.
President Buhari stated that appropriate processes would be improved to enable a peaceful transfer of power in Nigeria.
“As we approach our next general elections in 2023, we remain committed to putting in place and strengthening all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Nigeria not only witnesses another peaceful transfer of power to an elected democratic government, but also conducts elections in a free, fair, and transparent manner,” he said.
“Your Excellencies, Nigeria will continue to actively support the democratisation processes in our region West Africa and the African continent at large. But regrettably, our democratic gains of the past decades are under threats of unconstitutional takeover of power.
“This unwholesome trend, sometimes in reaction to unilateral amendments of constitutions by some leaders, must not be tolerated by the international community.
“Nigeria fully supports the efforts by ECOWAS to address this growing challenge and appreciates the support of both the African Union and the United Nations,’’ he added.
Nigeria continues to suffer security issues, according to the president, which constitute a threat to democracy.
He urged international partners to back Nigeria’s efforts to combat insurgency and terrorism.’
“I am proud to state that Nigeria has had over two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance and has unequivocally remained committed to upholding the core values and principles of democracy.
“Since assuming office in 2015, we have been able to introduce mechanisms to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
“We have strengthened our key anti-corruption agencies in collaboration with international partners and have undertaken several anti-corruption measures and initiatives,’’ he said.
President Joe Biden, the US government, and the American people were congratulated by the Nigerian leader for hosting the Summit.
“As you are aware, democracy has remained the most popular and universally recognised way of governance thus far.
“It is one governance system that guarantees freedom of speech, rule of law, respect for human rights and inclusiveness in governance.
“It also promotes social justice, economic and social development and national and global peace.
“However, in spite of these laudable qualities, more is required from us as members of democratic societies, particularly in ensuring that democratic institutions and processes are strengthened, particularly during this period of a global pandemic which has threatened social cohesion in most democracies.
“We, therefore, must remain resolute and enhance cooperation, so that together, we build back better democratic institutions and sustainable democratic values,’’ the president added.
The summit, according to President Buhari, is taking place at a time when democratic institutions around the world are confronting a number of challenges.
The summit, he claims, will contribute to a positive agenda for democratic renewal by concentrating on some of the fundamental difficulties that democracies face today.
“It is hoped that through our collective action, we can safeguard democratic values and principles,’’ he said.
The president stated that the disastrous effects of the COVID-19 epidemic, which prevented the summit from taking place face to face, had taken a severe toll on economies, health, and democratic processes around the world.
“Nevertheless, we have witnessed the resilience of democratic institutions in many countries that have held free, fair and transparent democratic elections under very challenging conditions,’’ he added.
