BUHARI GOES TOUGH! SNATCH BALLOT BOX AND ENDANGER YOUR LIFE

President Muhammadu Buhari says anyone planning to snatch ballot boxes during the forthcoming elections will do so “at the expense of his own life”.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday, Buhari warned against tampering with the electoral process.

He said having campaigned across the country; he has garnered enough support and does not need anybody to rig election on his behalf.

“Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb, it may be the last unlawful action you will take,” Buhari said.

“I rarely give the military and the police [the power] to be ruthless. I want Nigerians to be respected; let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I’m not afraid of it.

“The whole 36 states in Nigeria, I went round. I think I have got enough support across the country. So I’m going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life.”

He asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to take voters for granted and advised security agencies to respect the rights of voters during the electoral process.

Earlier during the meeting, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole has called on INEC to reshuffle some of its senior officials.

Oshiomhole accused some INEC State Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of working with the PDP.

He likened his request that INEC should be reshuffled to a team in a football match complaining about the bias of a potential referee. He said match officials have a responsibility to change such referee.

Mr Oshiomhole also accused INEC of leaking its plan to postpone last Saturday’s presidential elections to the PDP.

He also said the APC wants elections to hold across Nigeria at the same time.

“We do not want staggered elections,” the party chairman said.

Speaking after Mr Oshiomhole, President Buhari said INEC must act responsibly. He has directed the military and police force to go after any hoodlum that poses as a threat during the election.

Also, he said his government shall look into the postponement of the election by INEC and proper measure shall be taken if there’s any foul play.