President Muhammadu Buhari has informed supporters of his party in Rivers State that he is unhappy with the nullification of the primaries it conducted in the state.

A High Court in Port Harcourt had barred the All Progress Congress (APC) from conducting primaries in the state and although it went ahead with the exercise, they were later nullified by the court, a decision the Supreme Court has now upheld.

As a result, the Independent National Electoral Commission excluded the party from National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections in the state.
At his presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Monday, the President opened up about the development.

“I am very, very disturbed by the decision that we are not allowed to participate in some of the processes,” he told supporters of the party in the state.

The President praised the supporters for the restraint they have shown in the matter and urged them to be “patient and resolute”.

“Our objective is absolutely clear and I am very pleased you are responding to whatever the leadership of APC agrees to do within this political system,” he said.

President Buhari who has been accused of marginalising parts of the country, defended his administration’s performance in terms of security, the economy and fairness.

“We are going to ensure that justice is done in this country. When we came in 2015, you know the condition we found this country. The people of the North East are witnesses of the improvement effected in the security of this country,” he said.

He added that over the past three years, the government encouraged farmers with fertiliser at half the price it used to be and the country has better food security.

“The fundamental thing is that Nigeria is one and will remain one and we will do justice to all and sundry. This is our duty,” he added.

“I assure you that I will not preside over a government that will cheat and abuse the best of Nigerians. I will be accountable to God and to you for my performance as the President of this country.”

Stressing that, as President, he had one vote just like every other Nigerian, he promised to use the military and other security agencies to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to vote freely without intimidation or interference.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report

Update news