Nigeria's 62nd Independence Anniversary: 'I want to implore all aspirants to conduct issues-based campaigns' - Buhari to APC, LP, PDP Presidential candidates and others

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, has called on the Presidential candidates and others to ensure they "conduct issues-based campaigns" completely without "hate speeches" as well as "other negative and divisive tendencies".

Emblems of the Labour Party (LP), People's Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). All three parties are the top contenders for the 2023 presidency

The top contenders for the 2023 presidency are Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

President Buhari, in his Independence day speech, said, his administration has achieved "appreciable progress" in electoral processes.

He said, "the signing of the Electoral Act 2021 as amended with landmark provisions further assures us of a more transparent and inclusive Electoral Process."

Buhari further said, "Having witnessed at close quarters, the pains, anguish and disappointment of being a victim of an unfair electoral process, the pursuit of an electoral system and processes that guarantee election of leaders by citizens remains the guiding light as I prepare to wind down our administration."

The President entreated presidential candidates of various parties alongside others to ensure they carry out their campaigns without any sort of "hate speeches", as well as shun any action that will bring about any form of division among Nigerians.

He said, "You would all agree that the recent elections in the past two years in some states (notably Anambra, Ekiti and Osun) and a few federal constituencies have shown a high degree of credibility, transparency and freedom of choice with the people’s votes actually counting. This I promise would be improved upon as we move towards the 2023 General Elections.

"As we begin the transition process to another democratically elected government, I want to implore all aspirants to conduct issues-based campaigns devoid of hate speeches as well as other negative and divisive tendencies."

Buhari also made his "wish" known for the youth and women in the "forthcoming electoral cycle".

"I also want to express my wish that we see more female and youth participation in the forthcoming electoral cycle. I am sure that our teeming and energetic youths now realise that violence generally mar elections and so should desist from being used by politicians for this purpose," he said.

• God Bless Nigeria🇳🇬