A former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with credible 2023 elections.
The former vice president in a statement to mark the International Day for Democracy (IDD) by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Thursday, also charged INEC and other concerned agencies to ensure that the outcome of the next year’s election reflects the desires of Nigerians.
Waziri Adamawa noted that the celebration of democracy is, indeed, a celebration of the people’s power.
Atiku described the 2023 elections as an opportunity for INEC to show that it is not partisan.
The former Vice President, who acknowledged that there have been significant improvements in the processes that elections are conducted, expressed hope that Nigerians will vote for competent leaders.
The statement read in part, “In 2023, Nigerians will be voting for the leadership that they truly believe will lead this country out of the current dire situation and it is important to use the opportunity of the celebration, this day, to tell not just the INEC but other agencies and non-governmental organisations involved in the conduct of the election that the next election should be the freest and fairest ever in the history of Nigeria.
“The PDP presidential candidate also congratulated Nigerians for being part of the global community of people practising democracy and, to remind the electorates in Nigeria to remember that democracy is an enabler of good governance.
“Good governance is the ultimate end game. And the democracy that we practice is the only veritable vehicle that can drive us safely to the establishment of a government that will give us good governance and ensure that the rule of law is entrenched in our body politic.”
The PDP presidential candidate said when elected, under his watch, press freedom, a fundamental foundation of democracy, will be guaranteed.
Atiku described a free, robust and unencumbered press as key to nurturing democracy and development.