President Muhammad Buhari  has said that the upcoming elections in Ondo and Rivers states would serve as litmus test for 2019 election.

He said “if we can’t conduct an election in one state then we should forget about 2019.’’

Buhari has directed security agencies to do their utmost in ensuring violence-free elections in Ondo and Rivers states.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari issued the directive at a state dinner in Benin, the Edo state capital, on Monday.

Shehu said the president was disturbed by what happened in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states during past elections.

‘‘What happened in [the last elections] Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers State disturbs me a lot.

‘‘I think we should go beyond these actions. Why do we kill each other? Putting tyres on people and setting them ablaze.”