President Muhammadu Buhari says any activity designed to disrupt the 2023 general election will be met with “full force of the law“.
Buhari said this in his 2023 New Year message to Nigerians, which was released on Saturday.
On February 25, 2023, Nigerians will go to the polls to elect a new president, senators and members of the house of representatives.
On March 11, 2023, the governorship elections will take place alongside state assemblies polls.
Speaking on the forthcoming elections, Buhari asked Nigerians to resist any politician who wants to create unrest by disrupting the polls.
“In year 2023, Nigerians go to the polls to exercise our right to vote and elect a new administration,” he said.
“It is an important year for our country to ensure that we have another smooth transition of government, to whoever the people have decided upon.
“This administration’s landmark Amended Electoral Act will ensure that we have free and fair elections across the Nation.
“We as Nigerians must also take responsibility to ensure we participate in ensuring that the 2023 elections are free and fair by not engaging in anti-state activities and other nefarious acts that may affect the run of the polls.
“We must also resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections. We, as the government, will ensure such activities are met with the full force of the law.”
On security, Buhari said Nigerians must continue to assist the armed forces by providing community intelligence and report suspicious moves.
“As our security agencies continue to make the country proud, we must continue to assist our patriotic forces by providing much needed community intelligence,” he said.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria remains safe and peaceful for us all. Therefore, we have a duty and obligation to support our troops and intelligence agencies by being alert and reporting anything suspicious.”
