- We have no reason to rig election, APC replies
The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Sunday told President Muhammadu Buhari to stop using security agents to harass political opponents, warning that this could derail democracy.
Obasanjo also said that this was the style of the former military leader, late General Sani Abacha when he wanted to enthrone himself in office.
In a press statement, Obasanjo also expressed concern over the impartiality and competence of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) to conduct a credible, free and fair election.
Obasanjo also urged Nigerians and the international community to be at alert during the election to avoid manipulations.
He said, “’Today, another Abacha era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy.
‘’EFCC, police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results. Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy; if democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.”
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Isa-Onilu in reaction said Obasanjo was only reminding Nigerians of what happened during his administration.
He said, “Obasanjo cannot imagine that it is possible for a government to allow INEC the statutory independence that it has. We have had 93 elections since APC came to power, and we are sure that all those elections were conducted without any interference from this government.
“So, we can understand where the former president is coming from; his past is hunting him. The 2003 and 2007 elections were nothing to write home about and those elections happened under President Obasanjo. So, for us in APC votes must count. We are going to have a free, fair and credible election. We have no reason to want to rig election because our achievements speak for us.’’