On March 1st, 2023, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared Bola Tinubu as the winner of the Nigerian presidential election, held on February 25th.
Tinubu’s victory was announced in the early hours of the day and was followed by his presentation with the Certificate of Return, also by Prof. Yakubu, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The election was a closely contested one, with Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, emerging victorious over the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who came second and third, respectively.
Following the announcement of the election results, the United Kingdom congratulated Tinubu on his victory and praised registered voters for exercising their democratic rights.
In a statement, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly commended Nigerian voters for their participation in the presidential and National Assembly elections, noting their patience and resilience in exercising their democratic rights.
Cleverly’s statement also acknowledged the concerns expressed by observer missions and civil society about the organization of the election process, including delays and technical challenges.
While urging the Nigerian authorities to examine all concerns carefully and take action to resolve outstanding issues, Cleverly also encouraged opposition parties to seek legal ways of addressing issues and focus on delivering democracy.
The United Kingdom’s support for Nigeria’s democracy is unwavering, as is evident from the country’s longstanding history of assisting Nigeria in various areas of governance. This includes support for free and fair elections, which are essential for ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard and that the democratic process is transparent and accountable.
The UK has supported Nigeria’s democratic process through various initiatives, including the Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) project. The project focuses on enhancing the capacity of civil society organizations to monitor elections, advocate for reforms, and hold the government accountable.
Tinubu’s victory in the Nigerian presidential election has been congratulated by the United Kingdom, which has also commended Nigerian voters for their participation and resilience in exercising their democratic rights.
The UK has urged the Nigerian authorities to examine all concerns carefully, take action to resolve outstanding issues, and focus on delivering the will of the Nigerian people.
The UK remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s democracy and looks forward to continuing to work with the Nigerian government and people towards a brighter, more democratic future.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings