It is not unusual in Nigeria for opponents of a resident-elect to go to court to probe the proclamation.
Indeed, a lot has not changed when it comes to appealing election results.
Many political parties have raised concerns about the process, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) compromised the process to favour a candidate
Prior to the election, President Muhammadu Buhari promised Nigerians that the election will be free, fair and credible.
To respond to the claims of irregularities, President Muhammadu Buhari has demanded that other contestants in the presidential race who claim that the election result was manipulated should provide evidence to prove their claims.
The president says the results revealed democracy’s ripening in Nigeria, because it has never happened in one cycle of election for the electoral map to shift in the manner it did.
Provide Evidence Or Accept Defeat
The president, while congratulating the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Bola Tinubu, for winning the 2023 Presidential Election, said: “there is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today”.
President Buhari who spoke through a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu on Wednesday morning noted that competition was good for democracy.
He said: “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.
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“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.
“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 the nation changed colour.
“Some amongst you may have noticed my home state amongst 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”.
While admitting that there were hitches in the exercise the president said issues registered didn’t pose any challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.
The president said: “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”.
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The People Have Spoken
He also called on the other contenders to ensure peace.
“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.”
Aggrieved candidates have between now and May to push their case in court.
