Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Tinubu as president-elect after he secured the required 25% of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and capital.
Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday congratulated Tinubu, saying he was the best man for the job. Tinubu polled a total vote of 8, 794,726 to emerge the winner of the election according to INEC.
Buhari, a former Military general, will step down on May 29 after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the constitution.
“I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job,” Buhari said on Twitter.
Tinubu, candidate of Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), won 8.8 million votes against 6.9 million for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar and 6.1 million for the Labour Party’s Peter Obi on Saturday’s election, according to final results.
Buhari said on Wednesday that “I shall now work with him (Tinubu) and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.”
Buhari urged aggrieved opposition parties which had called for the ballot to be cancelled to be calm and maintain peace despite their misgivings.
“There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results,” he said.
“That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with the electronic transmission of the results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency and credibility to the voting procedure.”
“None of the issues registered represents a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections,” Buhari declared.
“If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence.”
Tinubu, a former two-term governor of Lagos State thanked Nigerians for their abiding belief in the country’s democracy and for electing him as the next president.
“Without you, this victory would not be possible. I am grateful to Almighty God, by His mercy, I was born a son of Nigeria and through His sublime purpose, I find myself the victor of this election.
“May He grant me the wisdom and courage to lead the nation to the greatness He alone has destined for it.
“I thank the Nigerian people for their abiding belief in our democracy. I shall be a fair leader to all Nigerians.
“I will be in tune with your aspirations, charge up your energies and harness your talents to deliver a nation that we can be proud of,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu commended INEC for running a free and fair election, adding that with each cycle of elections, the electoral process would be perfected.
“With each cycle of elections, we steadily perfect this process so vital to our democratic life. Today, Nigeria stands tall as the giant of Africa.
“It shines even brighter as the continent’s biggest democracy. I am profoundly humbled that you have elected me to serve as the 16th president of our beloved republic.
“This is a shining moment in the life of any man and affirmation of our democratic existence, from my heart, I say thank you,” Tinubu said.
