Saraki: How Nigerians Can Prevent Election Rigging

Bukola Saraki, President of the 8th Senate, has suggested ways to prevent election rigging in the country as the rescheduled general election kick starts on Saturday.

Mr Saraki is the director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation which has Atiku Abubakar, as its presidential candidate.

Mr Abubakar known universally as Atiku is the major challenger of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is running for a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) claiming nobody can unseat him unlike his predecessor.

The top lawmaker is also wishing to return to the red chamber at the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP.

Detailing how election rigging can be prevented from manifesting, the Kwara born lawmaker said large turn out of voters is the only antidote to the illegal electoral interference.

At the 84th National Executive Committee (NEC), he urged Nigerians to turn out in their numbers to cast their votes as that is the only way Mr Buhari and his party can be chased out of power.

He said the PDP is against rigging as speculated in some quarters. Recently, the president ordered security agencies to deal ruthlessly with those who are out to thwart the electoral wish of the people in the rescheduled general election commencing on Saturday.

“We have 4 more days to go. I want to appeal to Nigerians: do not let them frustrate you. When there is a low turn out, they can rig, but if you come out to vote, they cannot,” Saraki said while addressing the gathering in Abuja on Tuesday.

“PDP is against election rigging. The law must apply to people that rig.

“When you come out to vote on Saturday, do you want a Nigeria that that adheres to the rule of law, or do you want a Nigeria that is governed by jungle justice?” the top lawmaker queried.

He hinted that there are forces who want the election rescheduled again so as to create room for the accommodation of their personal gains.

“INEC, we know that they do not want you to hold that election on Saturday, but we want you to hold that election on Saturday,” Saraki said.

The electoral body conducting the general election rescheduled the general election to commence on February 23 against the initial February 16 it fixed earlier, citing logistical challenges.

While presidential and federal parliamentary elections are expected to hold this coming Saturday, that of governorship and state assembly comes up on March 9.