Snatch Ballot Boxes or Disturb Elections at the Expense of Your Life – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has cautioned potential troublemakers to desist from snatching ballot boxes in the upcoming general elections, Premium Times reports.

The president issued the warning during his remark at an emergency caucus meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abuja today.

President Buhari said anyone who attempts to steal ballot boxes at the polls would be doing so at the “expense of his/her life”.

”Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, maybe that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless.

”I am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he would do it at the expense of his/her own life,” the president said.

The president made the remark after berating INEC for postponing the general elections from February 16 to 23.

President Buhari said despite giving INEC all the necessary support to ensure a smooth poll, the commission still went ahead to display “incompetence” and failed Nigerians by not letting the polls start as planned.

The president also threatened consequences against INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, agreeing with the submission of party chairman Adams Oshiomhole that the electoral chief had compromised and was in purported collusion with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The national caucus meeting, which was initially televised for about 30 minutes, was cut off live broadcast after the president’s remarks.

Journalists were also asked to leave the venue to allow for a closed-door session.