Jonathan set standard for Nigeria’s future elections by conceding defeat in 2015 – Buhari

…says FG won’t accept actions that will undermine 2019 polls

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said former President Goodluck Jonathan’s voluntary acceptance of the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections has set the standard for future elections in the country.

The President also warned that the federal government under his leadership would not condone any action that can undermine the smooth conduct of the 2019 general election.

He asked politicians and political parties to pledge their commitment to the democratic process.

The President, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the 15th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja, said politicians and political parties must ask their supporters to respect the electoral process and refrain from violence, while aggrieved parties should learn to seek redress through constitutional means and respect for the rule of law.

He said Nigerians must have confidence in the ability of the country’s political institutions to conduct peaceful and successful election, stressing that timely adjudication and resolution of legal complaints arising from elections is a key component of the nation’s democratic process.

He said as the election that usher in the present government in 2015 reflected the will of the Nigerian people and was widely acclaimed as transparent and peaceful, adding that “in the build up to that poll, there were concern about widespread violence throughout the country with predictions of the worst scenario for us as a nation.

“We confounded the naysayers and the outside world. Nigerians showed resilience and patience when the biometric card reader system for verifying voters threw up some technical challenges. The security challenges in the North East did not deter out people from exercising their fundamental political and civic rights.

“From Umuahia to Damaturu, Jalingo to Oshogbo, our people queued for long hours at their polling units and kept vigil as election officials tabulated their votes. And then the big one, the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan historically set the tone for future political conduct in the country by graciously accepting defeat in a keenly contested race.

“As we look towards 2019 and completing another round of the electoral cycle, there is the need for all of us to sustain efforts at building confidence in the country’s democratic institutions, notably the judiciary and INEC.”