As Nigerians prepare for polls on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged contestants who fail to make their respective offices to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.
Buhari, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that his administration has laid the foundation for the conduct of free and fair elections across Nigeria.
He urged the candidates contesting these elections at all levels to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Since my assumption of office, we have worked so hard to ensure that we pass on a legacy of free, fair, credible, safe, and peaceful elections. We will continue to act with neutrality and allow the rule of law to take precedence over political expediency.
“We have demonstrated that with the off-cycle elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States. We allowed Nigerians to decide who should govern them. We are committed to this legacy in this administration.
“Any aggrieved candidate should resort to the established judicial processes, and we must have the confidence to trust our legal systems.
“Let me remind all Nigerians, not for the first time, that, this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to keep it safe, united, and peaceful.
“There should be no riots or acts of violence after the announcement of the election results. All grievances, personal or institutional, should be channeled to the relevant Courts.
The president also asked the INEC and security agencies to abide by the provisions of the constitution in the conduct of the elections.
“I am asking @inecnigeria, the security agencies and all other relevant institutions to be firm and courageous and to abide by the laws and constitutional provisions in conducting the elections, “he said.
