Buhari urges Nigerians to vote in guber polls

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday urged Nigerians to troop out to vote in the governorship and states national assembly election.

“With the presidential poll behind us, let us not to be complacent and fail to vote in the gubernatorial poll,” Buhari said in a brief address.

“The forthcoming elections are as important for good governance as that of the presidency and the National Assembly. Indeed, governance at the state level is closer to us and should touch our lives more directly,” he added.

Nigeria goes to poll on Saturday, March 9, to elect governors and state lawmakers. Governorship election will hold in 29 states of 36 states in the country.

“I, therefore, urge you to troop out massively on Saturday to elect your governors and state lawmakers,” Buhari said.

The president got 56% of the votes to be declared the winner of the February 23 elections. The presidential election was marred by delays, technical glitches and at least 39 deaths.

Some observers said the poll was more peaceful than polls in the past.

However, the opposition People’s Democratic Party called the count a “sham” and had on Tuesday filed a suit to challenge it.

The president in his address urged voters to shun “deviant behaviours” in the Saturday election while he promised safety for the voters.

“I assure that the security agencies will be on hand to protect voters and ensure that the process is not undermined in any way,” said Buhari.

“Let us make the gubernatorial polls much better than the presidential which local and international observers have adjudged to be free and fair,” he added.