Jibrin Calls President Buhari to Hold Free and Fair Elections

Abdulmumin Jibrin, a senior member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), stated on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari has a responsibility to hold a free and fair election in 2023.

At the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 21, Buhari had promised that his administration would leave behind credible elections the next year.

Jibrin, who spoke in Abuja at a citizens’ election debate on the subject of “What makes a good election in Nigeria,” however, said the Commander-in-Chief should not think that by making the vow, he is doing Nigerians a favour.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC), now in power, opposes taking Nigerians for granted in pursuing effective administration.

“It is important for us not to take Nigerians for granted. Yes, President Muhammadu Buhari said internationally that he would bequeath a free and fair election,” he said.

“It is not a favour to Nigerians, and it is a responsibility. So, we should not wrongly interpret that,” the ex-Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation added.

He also discussed the nominations for the 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) that were recently sent to the National Assembly.

The former congressman claimed that his party, the NNPP, is concerned, just as Nigerians are, about the alleged political orientation of some of the nominations.

He said that the President had chosen Lauretta Onochie, one of his assistants, to serve as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s National Commissioner last year (INEC).