President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he will not interfere in the 2023 general elections.

Buhari made this known, yesterday in a meeting with the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors at the State House, Abuja.

According to him, he will not tolerate any act of intimidation and humiliation by those in position of power the electioneering period, while adding that his administration would ensure that eligible citizens are not coerced in any form to vote against their conscience.

He said: “We will not allow anyone to use personal resources or their influence to intimidate other Nigerians. We will not allow intimidation materially, morally or physically. This is the kind of leadership that can emerge and consolidate our nation.

“In six months, Nigerians will appreciate the government of APC that we are sincere and we respect them.”

The President said APC, under his leadership, will continue to respect Nigerians and ensure that their votes count and that the people’s voice matters in choosing political leaders at different levels, citing the outcome of elections in Anambra and Osun that APC lost as indicators.

Recall that the President last week said he would only support candidates of his party, APC, in 2023. His statement yesterday, as released by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, indicated that while the President, as a politician, will campaign for his party, he does not plan to use state apparatus to give his party an advantage.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the PGF, Bagudu, thanked the President for his leadership, guided by wisdom and foresight, affirming that the Nigerian economy had been growing, in spite of challenges.

Bagudu said the growth trajectory, with the 3.5 per cent growth in the second quarter up from 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, had defied initial predictions of some multilateral institutions, affirming that the World Bank and others had acknowledged the resilience of the economy, and reviewed their positions.