The Presidency says the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, won the most competitive presidential election in Nigeria.

The Presidency said this via a statement issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

“It is worth setting their comments in context. No one has disputed the result of the election, except the candidates that fell short.

“The biggest and the most competitive presidential election in the history of Nigeria has been won by one man: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The US State department congratulated President-elect Bola Tinubu of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Nigeria on the outcome of the ‘competitive election’.

“British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was also quick to congratulate the winner, on this victory. And so did many others in ECOWAS and the African Union,” Shehu said.

The presidential spokesman further stated that there were flaws in the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections in the country.

Shehu said there were delays and technical faults in the 2023 general election, noting that the conduct of the just concluded elections was not perfect.

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He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must ensure transparency in collation of election results.

He said: “Though it is true there were some delays and technical faults in the process that we can learn from – as is the case in any election the world over – the vote progressed and consolidated democracy in Nigeria. The integrity of the Electoral Act of 2022 was strengthened.

“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System cut out ghost, unauthorised or multiple votes to stem fraud. The election may not have been pluperfect, but due to the steps the government has taken, it is an improvement on previous polls. That achievement should not be overlooked. The next step is for the Election Commission to ensure transparency in collation.

“Adverse reactions as received from some quarters are themselves a part of the learning process for everyone.

“Elsewhere, the world had been treated to epic lies, obfuscation, jingoism and hate, and told by global media to expect a different outcome. Nigerians shocked the world by refusing religious hatred and sectarian politics.

“All true friends of Nigeria should join the people in proceeding forward for sustainable peace.

“APC victory in the presidential election, underscored by the nationwide wave of support in the National Assembly results is clear mandate for the party to retain power for another term of four years.

“This election is an improvement on past elections and due credit should be given to the government and people of this country.

Shehu, however, commended former ambassadors Mark Green and Johnnie Carson as well as other foreign observers for “their concerns over the logistics of the recent general election in Nigeria and their work as observers on the National Democratic Institute/International Republican Institute Election Observation Missions.”

Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) garnered 6,101,533 votes to occupy the third position.

The Star