Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that Nigeria has moved beyond the era of do-or-die politics.
This assertion was made by Oshiomhole during a Citizens Elections Dialogue hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Yiaga Africa, and Channels Television.
He noted that the Nigerian electoral process has improved, saying politics is no longer a “do or die” affair in Nigeria.
Oshiomole’s assertion comes on the heels of a remark by Senator Dino Melaye that President Muhammadu Buhari nominated members of the APC as resident electoral commissioners.
According to Oshiomhole, Buhari, unlike in the past, is committed to a free electoral process and has restated his resolve to do so on several occasions.
He said, “I don’t want to sit down here and defend who is sympathetic to who but the Senate should do their job and I am happy that it has both APC and PDP members who are active, vibrant, and knowledgeable. They know who is who and it is their business to scrutinise those who have been nominated.”
“But congratulate President Buhari for being able to tell the world that this election is not a do-or-die for him or his party. I am proud of that. You may not be proud of it because you are in history as having had a president who said because he is leaving, he must be succeeded by the PDP otherwise it is a do-or-die affair. We have moved past that.”
Oshiomhole said Buhari has never used the Armed Forces to get electoral value in the country.
He said, “I think even the worst critic of President Buhari will admit that he has not tried to misuse the Armed Forces or the police in order to have an electoral advantage for people running an election on his platform or even his own election.”
“At every stage, he has insisted he wants to leave a legacy of a free and fair election,” he added.