President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, on his victory in the 2023 Presidential Election.
On Wednesday morning, the outgoing President Buhari issued a statement through his media adviser, Garba Shehu.
According to Buhari, “I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Chosen by the people, he is the ideal person for the job. powering the team’s fate.
For a region that has seen backsliding and military coups in recent years, this election illustrates democracy’s enduring relevance and capability to provide for the people it serves, according to Buhari.
“Within Nigeria, the results reflect democracy’s maturing in our country,” he remarked. Never before has the electoral map altered so dramatically in a single election cycle. During the presidential elections, states in every area of the country changed color.
“Some of you may have realized that my home state is among them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either. During a competitive election, this occurs. Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted. “Each must be earned”.
Buhari went on to say that competition is healthy for democracy, saying, “there is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we see today.”
He agreed that that was not to claim the exercise was without flaws.
In his words, “for instance, there were technical challenges with electronic transmission of the results. Of doubt, there will be areas that require improvement in order to increase transparency and confidence in the voting process.”
He stated that none of the issues registered pose a threat to the free and fair nature of the elections.
“I understand that some politicians and candidates may disagree with this viewpoint. It is also acceptable. Bring the evidence if any contender believes they can establish the fraud they say was committed against them.
“If they cannot, then we must assume that the election was actually the people’s will – no matter how hard it may be for the losers to accept. “If they feel the need to challenge, please do so in court, not on the streets,” he instructed the losers.
Buhari has so warned that deviating from this route indicates they are not acting in the best interests of the people, but rather to incite, to put people in danger, and all for personal, selfish benefit.
He also advised all candidates in the just ended elections that, after the inevitable divisiveness that comes with any election, it is now time to join together and behave responsibly.
“I urge all candidates to recall the peace vow they signed just days before the election. Do not jeopardize INEC’s legitimacy. Let us now go as one. “The people spoke,” he said.
Remember that Buhari, while voting in Daura on Saturday, exhibited his ballot papers publicly for all to see who he supported.
Mere minutes later, his actions had sparked extensive debate within the polity, with many Nigerians divided on whether he had broken the election act.
Garba Shehu would later absolve his principal of such infractions in a statement, claiming Buhari just presented his voting paper as an unusual demonstration of commitment to his party and chosen candidate.
Tinubu later lost Katsina state to the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP.