28th July, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has told his numerous supporters to stop campaigning for his re-election now until the time stipulated for such activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The president in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said it had been observed that some of his fervent supporters had begun what might be interpreted as political campaigns in their advocacies and advertisements in the mass media.
“We appreciate their enthusiasm, borne out of desire to garner support for an administration that is actuated by nothing else, other than service for motherland, but we hereby appeal for patience, so that the game can be played according to the rules.
:The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a timetable for political campaigns, and we urge committed supporters round the country (and beyond) to be mindful of such. There will be ample time ahead to trumpet the good works of the Buhari administration, and solicit re-election, all for the good of our country and her people,” he said.
According to Buhari, while a chronicle of the achievements of the administration was in order now, outright canvasing might amount to jumping the gun, saying that “we are an administration committed to due process and scrupulous respect for rules, law and order. We appreciate our massive supporters nationwide, and urge them to exercise restraint till the race commences officially as stipulated by law.”