Buhari: We could have used the military to overrun some states during elections

President Muhammadu Buhari says the All Progressives Congress (APC) could have used the military to overrun opposition states in the 2019 general election but it chose to be impartial.

Speaking at a meeting with north-east governors on Monday, Buhari said the government wanted to show Nigerians that it is humane.

Among the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who attended the meeting at Aso Rock were Ahmadu Fintri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

“It is true that we lost some states as a ruling party in a developing country, which is normal. I am proud of that because we are impartial, that is why as ruling party, we lost some states. That means we have our own mistakes,” he said.

“Some of those that defeated us are sitting here. We know we are a developing country but we respect our country, otherwise, with the use of Army, the police and the rest of them, we could have overrun you. We just wanted to show that we are humane and we are Nigerians. We will continue to do our best.”

The president said before last year’s elections, his party went round the country “apologising for not doing better, but we are doing our best. I think Nigerians believe us”.

“Nigerians, we thank God, understood us and they voted for us,” he said.

The president also lamented over the high level of insecurity in the country, asking the military to put in more efforts in curtailing crime.