President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured that rigging and other forms of electoral fraud will not be tolerated in the 2023 general elections, assuring that Nigerians would be free to elect their new leaders at the polls.

“We shall not allow anyone to use money and thugs to intimidate the people,” the president told a delegation of the West African Elders Forum Pre-Election Mediation Mission, led by former Sierra Leonean President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma. 

He added, “Nigerians know better now, they are wiser and know that it is better to dialogue than to carry weapons. Elections are even more difficult to rig now. 

“We are settling down, and making progress. People should vote whoever they want, in whatever party.”

Mr Buhari’s assertion comes as he winds down on his two-term, eight-year tenure, angling to leave an enviable legacy after an electorally dour time at the helm. Despite his stern anti-corruption posturing, electioneering activities have remained fraught with fraud with cases of rigging and vote trading rife, especially in off-cycle elections in some states.

There was much dilly-dallying and pressure from the civil society group before Mr Buhari signed the new Electoral Act which empowered electoral umpire INEC to deploy technology in its operations to forestall malpractices by politicians.

Citing the off-season elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, Mr Buhari assured the West African leaders that the 2023 poll would be transparent and acceptable to the citizens. 

“That right is guaranteed,” he assured.

In his remarks, former president Koroma said the group had met with stakeholders across the parties, civil society, and Independent National Electoral Commission, among others. 

“We commend you for making it clear both locally and internationally that the elections would be free and fair,” he told Mr Buhari. 

Eighteen presidential candidates including Bola Tinubu of Mr Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the leading opposition People Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are vying to become Nigeria’s next leader.