President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians, especially those of voting age, to make the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections better than the presidential and National Assembly polls.
The President also urged the electorate to come out en masse and cast their votes bearing in mind that Saturday’s election is close to the people.
In a message to Nigerians Wednesday, Buhari commiserated with the families of those who died as a result of violence in the Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as those who sustained injuries during the exercise, appealing to the youths not to allow themselves be used as political thugs during the elections.
He said: “The second and final phase of the 2019 general elections comes up on Saturday, March 9, with Nigerians voting for governors and members of Houses of Assembly in the states.
”Let me once again extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or sustained injuries as a result of accidents or criminal violence during the elections.
”The onus is once again on qualified people to turn out in large numbers to exercise their civic rights.
”With the presidential poll behind us, let us not become complacent, and fail to vote in the gubernatorial poll.
”The forthcoming elections are as important for good governance as that of the Presidency and the National Assembly.
”Indeed, governance at the state level is closer to us, and should touch our lives more directly. That is why it is vital for us to participate in the choice of who governs us at the state levels.
”I, therefore, urge you to troop out massively on Saturday to elect your governors and state lawmakers.”
He told the electorate to vote for his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying the party was guided by progressive ideals and will not disappoint the people.
While advising the people to be orderly during the elections, the President said: “Avoid all deviant behaviours like ballot stuffing, ballot snatching, and any other action that does not conform with best electoral practices.
“I assure you that the security agencies will be on hand to protect voters, and ensure that the process is not undermined in anyway. Let’s make the governorship polls much better than the presidential, which local and international observers have adjudged to be free and fair.
“May I repeat my appeal to our young people: Do not allow yourselves to be used to cause violence or to break the law or otherwise disturb the peace. I have pledged a decent and credible electoral system for our country.
”I stand by that promise. Let us together do the right thing on Saturday, so that the best hands can emerge at the states, and take us faster to the Next Level.”
