President Muhammadu Buhari, after voting in Daura, Katsina State on Saturday, stated that the scarcity of naira notes helped reduce the incidence of vote-buying during the governorship and state House of Assembly elections. The President urged Nigerians to collect money offered to them by vote-buyers but vote their conscience.
The naira scarcity had led to a crisis nationwide, which resulted in many Nigerians being unable to buy necessities or move around. The President, however, has come under heavy criticism for his administration’s poorly implemented policies on the naira scarcity.
Buhari stated that his administration had “diminished” the practice of vote-buying, and he boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the governorship and state Assembly elections across the nation. The President said he was not surprised with the results of the presidential election, which saw Bola Tinubu emerge as the President-elect. He said that the APC’s campaigns were thorough and detailed, and the party chose a chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, who had served as a two-term governor in Nasarawa State and legislator in the Senate, with the necessary experience to help the party.
Buhari also commended the media for enlightening the people on their rights and providing a platform for voters to challenge leaders on their promises and records.