President Muhammadu Buhari has warned those planning to disrupt the 2019 general elections by snatching ballot boxes or disturbing polling units they could pay with their lives.
While speaking at the caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday, February 18, 2019, he said he’s confident that he’ll win re-election so he won’t rig the polls for his own benefit, or be seen to be manipulating the process.
The president said he’s mandated law enforcement agencies to be ruthless against people planning to disrupt the elections.
He said, “Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb it, maybe that’s the last unlawful action you’ll take.
“I really gave the military and the police order to be ruthless. We’re not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections. I want Nigerians to be respected. Let them vote whoever they want across the parties.
“I’m going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he’ll do it at the expense of his own life.”
Buhari fires INEC over incompetence
While speaking at the meeting, the president also fired the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its incompetence in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
Just hours to the commencement of the polls on February 16, the commission postponed the elections for an extra week due to logistical problems and claims of attempted sabotage.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
The president said the commission’s failure to conduct the elections on the scheduled date was unacceptable.
