The African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will not renege on his promise of bequeathing free, fair and credible elections to the nation.
The organisation, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially political actors, to eschew violence during the 2023 general elections.
National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Gloria Akobundu, stated this at a media briefing to showcase achievements of the organisation for the year 2022, at the weekend in Abuja.
The President had, in several forums, assured that rigging and other forms of electoral fraud will not be tolerated in the elections, assuring that Nigerians would be free to elect new leaders at the polls.
Noting that the President will keep to his words, Akobundu said all hands must be on deck to assist Buhari fulfil the pledge.
She advised the media to be professional and avert breach of the peace in reportage before, during and after the polls.
Akobundu said: “Buhari has promised free election; we should all support him. We have no other country but Nigeria. Do not allow personal interest or quest for whatever that won’t support the peace of this country come to play during the election. Therefore, we need to join hands together to campaign for violent-free elections.”
She added that the agency is also implementing a national action plan on violence-free election across the six political zones.
Akobundu said the organisation, as part of its mandate, has been supportive of the President’s vision of pulling 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. She, however, said limited resources, especially funding, has been a serious challenge, as more citizens continue to fall into poverty.
According to her, Nigeria’s second review report adopted by the 31st Africa Union (AU) summit of Heads of states and Government committee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia could address the nation’s challenges, if duly implemented.