Concerned Northern Forum has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for conducting the most credible and transparent election in the history of Nigeria and congratulated President Elect , Senator Bola Ahmad Tinubu for his victory.
Spokesman of the Forum, Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem stated this during a press conference in Kaduna.
Comrade Kazeem saluted the courage and integrity of the INEC Chairman Professor Mahmud Yakubu for making history and delivering an impeccable election despite the aggressive work of saboteurs and enemies of democracy in Nigeria.
According to him, Professor Mahmud Yakubu deserves a national medal for carrying out the assignment diligently, widely recognized by international the community.
He stressed that no election was devoid of challenges, adding that Nigeria is an expansive and diverse country with a lot of challenges bordering on logistics and human failures.
“Despite widespread fears bothering on insecurity and kidnappings and against the judgment of many analysts that elections will not hold in many parts of the country, INEC under Mahmoud Yakubu delivered a world class election all over the country including flashpoints of violent extremism and terrorism such as Borno and Zamfara states”
“The fact that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a northerner contested with Bola Tinubu under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and lost does not mean we should join other undemocratic groups and networks in the country to condemn and discredit one of the most credible elections in the history of Nigeria”.
Comrade Abdulsalam Kazeem Mohammed described those calling for the cancellation of the election as enemies of Nigeria and must not be given a listening ear.
“Calling for the cancellation of an election that has been conducted in the most peaceful and orderly manner across the country is simply mischievous and is a call for the abortion of democracy”
“Even in developed democracies, elections are never completely without challenges. The American elections of 2015 that produced President Donald Trump were rumoured to be tempered with by the Russians. It was so widespread but that didn’t lead to the cancellation of the result”.
“The elections conducted by President Olusegun Obasanjo that produced Umaru Musa Yar’Adua were equally fraught with challenges but were not cancelled. In fact, Yar’Adua admitted the irregularities but rather worked towards electoral reforms”.
He called on those who lost the elections and their supporters to reach out and congratulate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and pledge their loyalty to work with him for a better Nigeria.
“This is not the first time candidates will lose in an election. President Muhammadu Buhari lost elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 before winning the 2015 Presidential election. Jonathan lost in 2015 without calling for the cancellation of the result, in fact, he immediately called and congratulated the president elect”.
Comrade Abdulsalam called on those who feel aggrieved to approach the law courts following the laid down procedures and lodge their case, Instead of creating tensions and causing disaffection amongst Nigerians across tribal and political divides.
He pointed out that, sponsoring protests and making inflammatory comments is unacceptable, describing it as a direct call for anarchy.
The spokesman of the forum further stated that, it is part of their duty and those of the various media houses to enlighten the public especially on the dangers of unnecessary tension in the country.
“Please, do not allow your media houses to be breeding grounds for fake and mischievous news emanating from desperate politicians seeking to sway public opinion from the good work INEC has done”
He applauded Nigerians for coming out in large numbers to vote for their preferred candidates.
COV/AMINU DALHATU