Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has said he has a commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country. But, there’s a problem. The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is made up of leaders who are either Buhari’s relatives and all the top leaders in INEC are card carrying members of Buhari’s party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
President Buhari stated this in a speech he delivered on Monday, October 1, 2018, to mark the celebration of the 58th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.
Stressing his support for credible elections, he said: “I have committed myself many times to ensuring that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.”
The President commended those who had sacrificed for the realisation of an independent Nigeria.
Buhari also highlighted some of the achievements of his administration in areas such as economy, security, insurgency, among others, and reaffirmed his determination to continue to work towards national development.
