In a recent briefing to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, addressed his recent official trip to the U.S. to clarify his comments about the February 25 Presidential election in Nigeria.
Mohammed stated that President Muhammadu Buhari did not give any advantage to his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.
Mohammed further emphasized that the Nigerian general elections were the most transparent and authentic that the country had ever held, despite efforts by the opposition to delegitimize the election. He attributed this to the introduction of technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which made it difficult for anyone to engage in over-voting, ballot-box stuffing, or any other form of electoral fraud.
The Minister also clarified that President Buhari promised to provide a level playing field, which he did, as evidenced by the fact that he lost in his own state, Katsina, in the presidential election, which had never happened before in Nigeria. Mohammed emphasized that the president did not confer any advantage on his ruling party, and he was willing to lose the election rather than win at all costs.
According to Mohammed, the last election was largely the least violent in Nigeria’s history because the president prevented the use of security agencies to rig the election. He also addressed his comments about Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour party presidential candidate, stating that Obi had every right to seek redress in court like any other political party.
However, he noted that nobody has the right to call for insurrection or threaten to end democracy if the president-elect is sworn in. Obi’s running mate said this on live television, and Mohammed expressed concern that Obi had not corrected or reined him in. He stated that such comments constitute treason and are unacceptable in a democratic society.
In summary, Mohammed’s statements sought to clarify the true nature of the Nigerian general election, highlighting the significant steps taken to ensure its transparency and authenticity. He also emphasized the president’s commitment to providing a level playing field and preventing electoral fraud, violence, and insurrection. The Minister’s comments help to dispel any misinformation or false claims about the election and the president’s involvement in it.
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