POLITICSNigeria elections: CUPP declares Buhari will not concede defeat, gives reasons

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari will not concede defeat if he loses the presidential election.


The coalition said this in reaction to Buhari’s boast that nobody can unseat him.

In an interview with CNN, Buhari, contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed his confidence at returning for a second term.


Buhari, who defeated the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan four years ago, was asked if he felt the same fate could befall him.

“No, nobody can unseat me,” he replied tersely.

The president was also asked if he has stamina for another four years, to which he responded: “Yes, I am ready for it”.


Reacting, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, in a statement Friday evening, sais it had become clear that Buhari does not have any plan to hand over.
“We are aware that his foot soldiers are already boasting that the President will either remain in office or ensure that the military takes over if the opposition wins”, it reads.

“Recall that at a town hall meeting called “The candidates” aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority, President Buhari was asked if he will hand over in case he loses the election. His response left no one in doubt that he is not ready to go. His plan is either to win by force or he scatters the entire country.

“We are also aware of the fact that ahead of the elections, the outgoing ruling APC Federal Government has set up military camps and special police strike force called Rapid Response Squad in some states.


“The squad has a leader that reports to chieftains of APC in their respective states and will be used to forcefully take result sheets and change figures.

“If the government embarks on such move that will deny the will of the people of Nigeria, the crisis in Cote Dvoire when Laurent Gbagbo and in Gambia when Yaya Jammeh refused to step aside after they lost elections and the 1964 and 1983 post -election crisis will be a child’s play. Opposition parties will not accept any tainted result.

“If the poll figures are in our favour as expected, we will not waste time in forming a people’s government and President Buhari will have no options but to accept it. Nigerians have accepted it as a national service and unparalleled show of patriotism to ensure that President Buhari and his destructive government are voted out of office.


“The interview he granted on CNN where he vowed that he will not be unseated is violation of the law that stipulated that campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections should stop by Thursday.”