Nigeria elections: Buhari vows peaceful polls as campaigning ends

• Posted on February 15, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Nigeria’s top two presidential candidates have wrapped up their campaigns with big rallies in front of enthusiastic crowds, making their final pitches to voters and reiterating their commitment to holding peaceful elections.

As campaigning drew to a close on Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari, of the ruling All Progressives Congress party,  and his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party, addressed supporters in their home states of Katsina and Adamawa, respectively.

The election on Saturday is seen as one of the closest in Africa’s largest democracy, with Buhari facing a strong challenge from Atiku, a former vice president.

The two main candidates have vowed to fix the economy, bring security and create more jobs in Africa’s most populous country.

Security is a major concern before the vote, with fears of clashes between rival supporters.

Campaigning, however, has so far been relatively peaceful.

In a statement broadcast nationwide as campaigning ended, Buhari said Saturday’s vote would take place under a “secure and peaceful atmosphere”.

“It was indeed such free, fair and peaceful elections that made it possible for our government to emerge despite the fact the fact that they were contesting against a long-standing incumbent party,” Buhari said.

“Any comments or threats of intimidation from any source do not represent the position of the federal government of Nigeria,” he added, in the wake of inciting comments by some ruling party officials and opposition leaders.

Danlami Sunday, a public servant, told Al Jazeera he found Buhari’s speech “reassuring”.

“It shows he is a father of the country and does not want any trouble at all. Let other politicians respect the voters so that there will be peace everywhere,” he said.

Source: ALjazeera