Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress candidate and winner of the 2023 presidential election, has received congratulations from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
Buhari stated in a statement released on Wednesday in response to Tinubu’s victory:
“On his victory, I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is the best candidate for the position, elected by the people. I’ll now collaborate with him and his team to ensure a smooth transfer of authority.
Africa’s largest democratic exercise was the election. This election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capacity to deliver results for the people it serves in a region that has experienced backsliding and military coups in recent years.
“The outcomes demonstrate that democracy is maturing in Nigeria. The electoral map has never been so drastically altered in one election cycle. All states in the country changed color during the presidential elections. Some of you may have noticed that my home state is included among them. The winning candidate also failed to win his home state. That takes place during a heated election. It is impossible to take for granted votes and the people who cast them. Each requires earning. Our democracy benefits from competition. The outcomes we examine today indisputably reflect the people’s decision.
This does not mean that the exercise was flawless. For instance, the electronic transmission of the results was plagued by technical issues. Naturally, there will be areas that require improvement in order to enhance the voting process’s credibility and transparency. However, none of the reported problems pose a threat to the fairness and freedom of the elections.
I am aware that some candidates and politicians might disagree with this viewpoint. That is fine as well. Bring the evidence if any candidate believes they can demonstrate the fraud they claim was committed against them. No matter how difficult it may be for the losers to accept, we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will if they cannot. Please take it to the courts rather than the streets if they feel the need to challenge.
“However, if they do the latter, it indicates that they are not acting in the best interest of the people but rather to agitate, to put people in danger, and to do so for their own, purely private gain.
“It is now time to come together and act responsibly after a degree of polarization that always comes with an election. I encourage each and every candidate to keep in mind the peace pledge they made just a few days before the election. Do not damage INEC’s credibility. Let us now proceed together. The individuals have spoken.
