President Muhammadu Buhari heartily congratulates the winner of the (2023) Presidential Election, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the results just announced, President Buhari said he shall now work with Asiwaju and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.
According to a statement by the senior Special Assistant to the Presodent on media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu 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.
President Buhari said Within Nigeria, the results reveal democracy’s ripening in the country.stresing that Never has the electoral map shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in all regions across the nation changed colour.
He pointed out that Some Nigerians may have noticed that his 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 Nigerias democracy. There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results the Country look at today.
The President maintained that 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.
He started that he know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this view, and 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, the country 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.
Muhammad Buhari However, stated that 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.
He added that after a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly.
He called on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC.
He advised Nigerians to now move forward as one. As the people have spoken.
Bello Wakili
