President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Bola Tinubu,
president-elect and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the results announced by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, Tinubu secured 8,794,726
votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got
6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533
votes.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson,
Buhari advised aggrieved candidates to take their concerns to court, adding
that calls for protests will only escalate tension.
The president, who cited a reference to concerns over the
issues with the INEC result viewing portal, said such will be the focus as
efforts go into improving the country’s electoral process.
He described Tinubu as the best person for the position, and
also expressed his commitment to working with the president-elect towards
smooth transition of power.
“I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his
victory. Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job. I shall now
work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Buhari
said.
“The election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise. In a
region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, this
election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver
for the people it serves.
“Within Nigeria, the
results reveal democracy’s ripening in our country. Never has the electoral map
shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in
all regions across the nation changed colour. Some amongst you may have noticed
my home state amongst them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home
state either. That happens during a competitive election.
“Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted.
Each must be earned. Competition is good for our democracy. There is no doubt
the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today.
“That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For
instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the
results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further
transparency and credibility to the voting procedure. However, none of the
issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the
elections
“I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with
this view. That too is fine. If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud
they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence.
“If they cannot, then
we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will – no matter how
hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge,
please take it to the courts, not to the streets.
“However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in
the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way
and all for personal, selfish gains.
“After a degree of polarisation that necessarily accompanies
any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly.
“I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they
signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC.
Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken.”
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Yes the best person to continue with the Nigerian dastardising policy u started.....
ReplyDeleteActually not the best man to fix Nigeria..
Left to be seen ...
Elected by which people?
ReplyDeleteSuffering continues
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmm!!!!!!!! e be like say, to leave naija go be the best option now ooo!!!!!
ReplyDelete