TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria’s electoral process has been improving steadily since 2015.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, Buhari spoke in Washington DC, USA, at an interactive session entitled ‘A Conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria’.

Buhari said his administration remains determined to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections whose outcome would be largely accepted by the contestants.

“Since 2015, the conduct of our elections continues to steadily improve. From the 2019 general election, the by-elections and the off-season elections in Edo, Ekiti, Anambra and Osun States were conducted in largely improved contexts to the satisfaction of contestants and voters,” Buhari said.

“That is what we hope for in 2023. Through the observatory roles of the international community, the credibility of the elections can be further enhanced to make the acceptability of the outcome to the contestants and political parties a non-issue.”

On democracy in West Africa, Buhari said Nigeria would “aggressively work” with stakeholders to “improve the quality of governance in the West African sub-region where the survival of democracy is currently challenged”.

He said this could be done through targeted investments that can enhance dividends of democracy, creation of robust means of livelihood for the people, as well as promotion of accountability and transparency by the political class.

“I call on all of you here present to continue to partner with us and our electoral body for the needed collaborative efforts which are critical to deepening and stabilising democracy in Nigeria and the rest of Africa,” he said.

“The recent reversals witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are most unfortunate indeed and ECOWAS continues to effectively remain engaged with these countries.

“This is in order to restore democracy to all the Member-States of ECOWAS as indeed the entire African Continent.”

Buhari thanked Johnnie Carson, a former US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and his team for inviting him back after his last visit in 2015.

Buhari recounted his outing in 2015, wherein he spoke extensively on the vision and focus of his administration in the three critical areas of security, economy, and fighting corruption.

“I am, therefore, exceptionally pleased today, that this stage which served as my opening act has once more presented itself as the curtains are almost being drawn, for the opportunity to share experiences and discuss the last seven and half years,” he added.

“When I met you in 2015, I was not unaware of the enormous domestic and international goodwill that I attracted.

“Although I am a converted democrat, and not your run of the mill politician and therefore, less inclined to engage in double-talks, my Advisers may not be happy with me in this regard.

“I am, however, measured in speaking but always certain that the truth I shall speak and this has huge consequences in a political space wherein this is an exception rather than the norm.”