President Muhammadu Buhari has told the international community that Nigeria’s next election in 2023 will not be a failure for Africa.
The President made the remarks at a bilateral meeting with Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, on the sidelines of the African Union’s Extraordinary Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The Nigerian leader, while emphasizing the importance of African political leaders respecting citizens’ right to vote in elections, admitted that the road to democracy in Africa has not been easy.
Buhari also advised voters to vote based on merits rather than religion or ethnicity. He stated,
“We must convince the people that we respect them, and this is by allowing them to choose whoever they want.
“I had to openly disabuse the minds of our colleagues. We are a developing country, so we should not be demoralised.
“We have to go through these processes. We must trust these institutions to do what is right. Present the evidence. Don’t give up. Keep on pushing.
“So, I say go for merit. Don’t stand on ethnicity or such other divisive factors.”
