Supplementary elections: ‘I believe in people’s will, won’t pressure voters’ – Buhari

The President has dismissed the allegation that he is forcing
voters to elect candidates other than those they preferred.

President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the claim in a statement on
Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr
Garba Shehu.

“I believe in the will of the people,” he said emphatically,
adding “I cannot, therefore, put pressure on voters to elect
leaders they don’t like.”

The President describing the claim as baseless, noting that at
no time did he give instructions that the electorate should vote
particular candidates.

He, however, has called on Nigerians to come out en masse and
participate in the supplementary elections scheduled for
Saturday.

President Buhari appealed to voters not to get tired of coming
out to vote in the supplementary elections, saying “these elections
are no less important than others before them.”

He urged the people to vote for the candidates they believe
would deliver on promises because it was their constitutionally
guaranteed democratic rights.

The President, therefore, called on the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to ensure
that the supplementary polls were conducted peacefully and in
accordance with the law and Constitution.

He thanked the voters for re-electing him for a second term in
office and promised not to forget their sacrifices in defying harsh
weather conditions to vote for him.

“I was deeply overwhelmed by your show of incredible confidence
in me, and I will never let you down. Thank you for your sincere
show of support for me,” President Buhari stated.

He gave assurance that he would work with elected
representatives of the people regardless of the political party
platforms on which they were elected.

The President said he would also work in the best interest of
the country and democracy.

INEC had fixed March 23 to conduct supplementary polls in 17
states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following the March
9 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.