Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president, on Wednesday told world leaders that he would leave a legacy of free-and-fair elections as his eight-year tenure comes to an end in May 2023.
The President made this known in his last address before world leaders at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States.
“We believe in the sanctity of constitutional term limits and we have steadfastly adhered to it in Nigeria. We have seen the corrosive impact on values when leaders elsewhere seek to change the rules to stay on in power,” he said.
“Indeed, we now are preparing for general elections in Nigeria next February. At the 78th UNGA, there will be a new face at this podium speaking for Nigeria.
“Ours is a vast country strengthened by its diversity and its common values of hard work, enduring faith and a sense of community. We have invested heavily to strengthen our framework for free and fair elections. I thank our partners for all the support that the have provided for our elections.
“As President, I have set the goal that one of the enduring legacies I will like to leave is to entrench a process of free, fair and transparent credible elections through which Nigerians elect their choice,” Buhari said.
The President, who reiterated his commitment to constitutional limit, said Nigeria has stood for democracy and the rule of law as a country and in the sub-region in countries such as The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and the Republic of Chad.
STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS @UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WEDNESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2022#UNGA #UNGA77 #NigeriaAtUNGA #PMBatUNGA#Thread pic.twitter.com/WKnAqIOOv1
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) September 21, 2022