I’m impressed with INEC’s readiness for elections, Buhari tells EU observers

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is impressed with the preparations made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the general election.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, spokesman of the president, Buhari made the remark while speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with the European Union Observer Mission (EOM) to Nigeria, at the state house, Abuja.

The president said he was optimistic that the electoral body would deliver a credible poll, noting that Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had briefed the national council of state about the commission’s plans.

The president told the EU delegation that Nigeria had grown its electoral system and it is “getting better year after year”.

“I am happy and impressed with the briefing he gave. I hope that the confidence he exuded and the intellect he brought to bear on the report will be justified at the end of the day,” he said.

“Having participated in elections four times in the past, I would say that since 2015, technology has helped the credibility of our elections.”

Buhari said despite the different ethnic groups and religions, “patriotism demands that we identify the nation’s best interest and go with it”.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has the “good sense” of identifying the national interest to include security, peace and stability, improved economy, jobs creation and the campaign against corruption.

He noted that the party is not wrong by going into the forthcoming elections with the same issues it enumerated in its campaigns in 2015.

The president thanked the delegation for taking interest in Nigeria’s elections and in the affairs of the nation.