President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has advised political parties, candidates and security agents to behave responsibly in the Edo State governorship election on Saturday.
The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja, said that Buhari, in a message, also warned the people “the do-or-die mentality to politics.”
“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,” Buhari was quoted as saying in the statement.
The president urged all political parties and their candidates to respect law and order.
He particularly advised election officials and security agents “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,” he said.
