NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS , FRIDAY , MARCH 27, 2015

Dear Compatriots,
1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before
you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the
opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the
past four years .
2. I also wish to place on record, once again , my sincere gratitude
for the support you have given my administration without which
the significant progress we have made in recent years would not
have been possible.
3. In spite of the many challenges we have had to contend with
since 1999, our present democratic dispensation continues to
endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and
aspirations of our people .
4. We have all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our
democratic institutions and promote the good governance
practices which they were designed to deliver for the better well -
being of our people.
5. I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that we all
clearly cherish the democracy we now have and will never
willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
6. This much - cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to
the test once again .
7. I urge you all to troop out en - masse to peacefully perform your
civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow.
8. As we do so , let us all – political party leaders, contestants ,
party members , party agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike ,
be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire world are
on us.
9. We must therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will
further strengthen our democracy and consolidate our place in the
comity of truly democratic nations .
10. I made a commitment on assumption of office to progressively
deliver freer, fairer and more credible elections in our country . In
keeping with that commitment, the Federal Government has given
the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) all
necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful
elections tomorrow and on April 11.
11. We have all been assured that INEC is fully ready for the
elections. I believe that we can all trust that they are certainly
more ready now than they may have been before security issues
and other concerns necessitated a re - scheduling of the dates for
the 2015 general elections .
12. As an administration, we welcome the fact that millions of
Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent Voters
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administration, we welcome the fact that millions of Nigerians
who were yet to receive their Permanent Voters Cards ( PVCs ) as
at February 14, and would therefore have been unfairly
disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date , have
seized the opportunity of the re- scheduling to collect their cards
and can now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
13. We are also glad that our gallant Armed Forces have
successfully stemmed the seizure of Nigerian territories in the
North- East by the terrorist group , Boko Haram .
14. They have recaptured most of the communities and territories
formerly occupied by the insurgents, making it possible for
thousands of internally- displaced Nigerians to begin returning to
their homes and communities.
15. I heartily commend the very courageous men and women of
our Armed Forces for the immense sacrifices which they continue
to make in defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
16. I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the
past six weeks.
17. I call on all political parties and politicians in the country to
allow the free , unfettered will of our people to be expressed
without any hindrance in the coming elections in keeping with
the hallowed principles and tenets of democratic governance
which we all profess.
18. The will of the people freely expressed through the ballot is
the bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be an exception
19. Let us all therefore be prepared , as true democrats , to
graciously accept the outcome of the elections as the rightful
choice of our people from whom all political powers in our
democracy must emanate
20. My administration has done its utmost best in the past four
years to deliver on our promise to positively transform our
country
21. Tomorrow ’s election is another very important milestone as
we continue our march towards the fulfillment of our God - given
potential for greatness .
22. The election offers us another opportunity to empower leaders
of our choice once again , and to show the world that genuine
democracy is alive and well in our beloved nation .
23. I will like to restate my belief that no political ambition can
justify violence or the shedding of the blood of our people.
24. I reaffirm once again , my personal preparedness to ensure fair
play during the elections and to deploy the resources and
institutions of state only in the manner prescribed by our laws .
25. Let me warn , however, that as President, Commander - In - Chief
of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all
Nigerians and the security of our country at all times . I will never
abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
26.26. Democracy allows dissent . It encourages differences and
even fervent disagreements . But elections must never be mistaken
for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each other
and tear our beloved nation apart.
27. Those who may harbor any intentions of testing our will by
unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their
political ambitions should think again as all necessary measures
have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the
peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our
laws.
28. The nation ’s security agencies are also fully prepared and
ready to deal decisively with any group or persons who attempt
to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any form
of public disorder
29. Our dear country , Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst
black nations of the world. We are a nation of great
accomplishments , with a proud history of evolving affinities
30. Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting
example of political maturity for other emerging democracies to
follow.
31. I wish you all and our dear nation , very peaceful and
successful elections .
32. May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria .
33. I thank you all .