THE National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no favoured candidates in next month’s off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
Ribadu made the declaration on Friday while speaking with newsmen after a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) comprising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the service chiefs.
Ribadu, who noted that the November election would be the first to be conducted on Tinubu’s watch, said his principal was determined to conduct free and transparent elections.
He said: “We are prepared and will be with you 100 percent and will work to meet the standard that you want us to meet. There is nothing as important as free and fair election in a democracy. This government is interested in that and Mr President has directed that he wants to see a free, fair and credible election. This is the first election that is going to be held under his watch.
“He said everything possible should be done to ensure that Nigerians witness free and fair elections. I want to assure Nigerians that these elections will be better than the previous ones. These elections are going to be without violence and a litmus test for us.”
