Categories: Latest News

2023: I’m beneficiary of free, fair election, ‘ll bequeath same – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that as a beneficiary of a free and fair election in the country, he would bequeath same to his successor and the nation in 2023.

This is even he said he was already looking forward to a peaceful hand over in 2023, stressing that he was morally bound to fulfil that wish.
Buhari made the promise at a dinner with members of the legal team for the 2019 presidential election petition on Thursday night in Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said Buhari recounted that the turnout of Nigerians during his presidential campaigns to the 36 states of the federation in 2019 convinced him that his re-election was not a fluke.

“The number of people that turned out in every state across the country was more than anybody can buy or force.

“This gave me so much confidence and the election proved that with the votes I got.
“That is why I insist that elections must be free and fair because I am a clear successor to a free and fair election,” he said.

On a peaceful handover in 2023, Buhari said: “Morally I want to have a clear conscience. I swore by the Holy Book that I will abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I will continue to do my best and I hope that by 2023, I can handover quietly to whoever succeeds me and I wish him the best of luck,” he said.

The president commended the legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, for the outstanding legal successes recorded in the presidential election petition.
He praised the team for the effective legal strategy that thrived in piloting his election litigation.

“You creditably demonstrated a deep understanding of the law and its practices and I am indeed proud of you all.

“I am confident that by securing a convincing and unanimous legal victory at the Supreme Court you have by so doing ensured that the political mandate of the Nigerian electorate is now firmly secured,” he said.

President Buhari added that the legal team’s enormous contributions had affirmed the rule of law and further entrenched democratic governance in Nigeria.

“This legal team is an assemblage of some of the most scholarly legal teams ever assembled in this country.
“I must note that the aforesaid legal successes recorded through your excellence have assisted me in fulfilling this government’s desire for a better Nigeria,” he said.
The president commended the legal team on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for its meritorious service.

In his remarks, the lead counsel, Olanipekun said the legal victory was won based on the facts of the law, stressing that President Buhari never used his position or office to influence the decision of the courts.

“The courts were allowed to do their job; Mr President and I must commend you for that sir. Nobody whispered to anyone of us, how we are going to see Judge A or Judge B. That’s the way it should be. Judges must be allowed and be given free hand to do their job.

“Mr President, we are happy to have been called upon and we are happy that we delivered.”

On electoral reforms, Olanipekun acknowledged that while the National Assembly was doing something about the Electoral Act, the act requires some “rejigging and cleansing.”
“We are happy to know that the National Assembly is doing something about the electoral law.

“We are ready to cooperate with them without taking a dime, whether as consultants, whether as legal practitioners, whether as experts. If the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) will co-opt us, we are ready to give assistance,” he said.

Olanipekun commended Buhari’s commitment to the rule of law, saying ‘‘it is the surest legacy Mr President can bequeath to our dear nation.

Ben Idah

Recent Posts

BREAKING: APC Crisis: Court of Appeal dismisses Moses Agaba’s appeal against Austin Agada

The Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by…

7 hours ago

BBNaija’s Phyna publicly rejects family, drops surname

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephine Ijeoma Otabor, also known as Phyna, has publicly…

7 hours ago

Yemi Alade slams Cool FM, Clout Africa over blacklisting, refusal to forgive

Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has criticized prominent media outlets Cool FM and Clout Africa, accusing…

8 hours ago

BREAKING: Relief as Lakurawa terrorists flee Nigeria after military intervention

Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, has announced that the Nigerian military successfully expelled the…

8 hours ago

BREAKING: Supreme Court nullifies National Lottery Act, grants states exclusive control

The Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, ruling that the…

8 hours ago

Latest update on fuel price hike, fuel scarcity for November 22nd, 2024

As Nigerians express their frustrations over the recent fuel price hikes by the Nigerian National…

13 hours ago