President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the President elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory in Saturday’s Presidential Election.
Buhari in a message posted on his Twitter Handle @MBuhari, noted that Tinubu was elected by the people and he is the best person for the job, adding that he [Buhari] will now work with him [Tinubu] and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.
While noting that the election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise, in a region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, He added that this election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver for the people it serves.
According to him, “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 Nigeria changed color. Some amongst you may have noticed my home State among 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.
“To take to the streets 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 polarization 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. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.
