The Presidency has asked Nigerians to defend and protect the nation’s democracy against desperate politicians that it said are working to undermine democratic governance in the country.

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who stated this in an interview with journalists Abuja in his office on Saturday, also declared that the Federal Government has transformed the electoral process to a level where every vote counts and Nigerians must build on these gains.

He said, “Since the President has committed himself to provide a level playing field it is our own duty also to follow suit.

“So far PDP has been giving the lead and we have evidence to show that over the past three years or more every effort has been made to entrench a system of open accountability in the electoral system.

“You people are living witnesses on several occasions when Mr. President, during the 2011 election and subsequently, at every opportunity he had to speak that he has said two things on two different levels.

“One, he has said that as far as he was concerned any of his ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen in this country. He has said that repeatedly and when Mr. President speaks I believe he speaks from his heart.

“Secondly, the mantra we used in the previous election has been, as the President has called it himself, one man one vote, one woman one vote, one youth one vote.

“So we thought that the line has been drawn, that issues of violence should not be part of our democratic culture at all. Issue of do or die should not be part of our democratic culture again.

“So we are calling on all Nigerians to be very mindful that as we are setting our attention now towards Osun state and subsequently other elections, people should be very careful that they are not used or misused by desperate politicians.”

Alkali also called on the youths to be vigilant against some desperate politicians that may want to use them during election saying those politicians never meant well for them.