APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he openly displayed his ballot paper with thumb print for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu, is a rare show of loyalty and support.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote in Daura in Katsina State on Saturday, Buhari explained that after campaigning for Tinubu in many parts of the country, he had to reaffirm his support for his preferred successor.
The Nigerian leader, whose support for Tinubu has been in doubt among party members, stated that he had always supported the candidature of Tinubu and that the show of his ballot paper to the media and the public was to further show his commitment to the party and the national leader of the APC, Tinubu.
Buhari, who cast his vote alongside his wife, Mrs Aisha Buhari, and other family members, at Ward A, Sarkin Yara Polling Unit 003, said that it was a pity that only one female emerged as gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Aisha Binani, urging support for the candidate.
“I am very impressed because I have seen how the people turned up. I am very impressed and very happy.
”Well, the candidate I voted for I have already mentioned him in many states in Nasarawa, Katsina and Sokoto.
“All over the places I mentioned my favourite candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, and I believe my constituency will elect him 100 per cent,’’ local media reports quoted Buhari as saying.
Buhari advised Nigerians to ensure that their rights to vote were always respected.
“Nigerians should make sure that they are respected; that means that the candidate they want to vote for they are allowed to vote for him.
“It is a pity there is only one female candidate from Adamawa State, so the electorate should kindly follow our party,’’ he added.
Although Buhari’s action was to assure Tinubu of his support, but that gesture was however, condemned and described by political analysts as unlawful.
GIK/APA