President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the forthcoming elections in 2019.
The President said this while receiving a delegation from the International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States of America, at the State House in Abuja.
A statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, read:
“I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations,
“It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries.
“Having run for president three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.
He also accused the former Government of awarding votes.
“What they used to do was just to award votes and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.”
He also said he had instructed the heads of the security agencies not to be partisan while carrying out their duties.
He also touched on the issues on Boko Haram:
“We have done fairly well in the areas we focussed on. We know how many local government areas in the North East were under Boko Haram occupation before we came. That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers.
“Other areas of security challenge like farmers-herdsmen clashes are receiving attention and would be sorted out as much as possible.”
He also explained why he hasn’t accented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
“Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically,” He said.
“We will remain conventional and use electronic transmission in subsequent elections.”