Atiku Reveals How Nigeria Can Stop Election Rigging

Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, says Nigeria can stop election rigging by implementing the recommendations of the National Electoral Reform Committee (NERC).

Naija News reports that Abubakar, who is a former Vice President of Nigeria, made this comment in a statement issued by his media team on Monday, July 29.

Abubakar said “the 2019 elections were several steps down from the 2015 elections in terms of credibility, and as a democrat, I am challenging that election in the right arena, the courts.

“However, leadership does not just entail getting justice for the past. A real leader knows that in terms of justice, prevention is better than cure.

“I have been pondering on the question, how can Nigeria have credible elections?”

The former Vice President added that “Our electoral system needs not just to be brought up to date, by the acceptance of the amendments to the Electoral Act passed by the eight National Assembly, we also need to be up to tomorrow, by taking steps today to ensure that the lapses that made it possible for the 2019 elections to be manipulated or rigged are addressed.

“Of all three arms of government, the Judiciary is the least affected by-elections, meaning that it has the highest objectivity in matters relating to the INEC.

“It is therefore in the best position of the three arms to appoint a chairman and board members for the electoral body that are impartial, competent and patriotic.

“This recommendation may seem like a small change, but my experience in life has taught me never to underestimate the big difference small changes can make.

“Where you have an administration whose mandate is considered tainted, such a government will lack sufficient moral authority to tackle the myriad of problems this great nation currently faces.

“I conclude by saying that I do not believe in blaming. Leadership must be solution-oriented, not blame-focused.

“This is why I proffer this patriotic advice. Nigeria must be great again and all hands must be on deck to achieve that,” the statement added.