Despite Global Outcry, Buhari Defends Tinubu’s Victory

*Says No Going Back On Outcome, No Case Of Annulment, June 12, 1993 Won’t Repeat Itself
*Says Allegations Against INEC Vile, Unsubstantiated

Despite the global outcry provoked by the conduct of the February 25 presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari has risen in defence of the emergence of his fellow party man and candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as winner.

Buhari expressed stout justification of the president-elect, insisting, “Bola Tinubu’s election stands. If you are aggrieved, and you have the locus to do so, go to court.”

Reaffirming President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance that “whoever is the winner will be president,” the Presidency affirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his declaration by INEC as President-elect, stating that “Tinubu’s election stands,” and whoever is aggrieved can challenge it with the locus to prove any case otherwise before the Court.

The position of the Presidency was made known in a report by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, titled, “At the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), President Buhari drums up support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency.” In the report which briefed the participation of President Buhari at the LDCs Conference, in Doha, Qatar, the Presidency said that the knocks on INEC were vile and unsubstantiated allegations.

It stated that against pressure, President Buhari who was faced with orchestrated attempts to poison public opinion against national institutions, particularly the presidential election and its conduct by the INEC, stood without changing grounds. The presidential spokesman in what could be described as the takeaways he listed from the President participation at the LDCs Conference, in Doha, Qatar, said that Buhari, while speaking to Nigerians in the Diaspora about the ongoing political transition, called for support for the incoming government of Asiwaju Tinubu, “so that Nigeria will continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity in our continent and an example for other African countries to emulate.”

“In addition to other things, this trip, more than any other, speaks to the courage, political stamina and statesmanship with which the President has managed the affairs of the nation.

“In the buildup to the trip, he was faced with orchestrated attempts to poison public opinion against national institutions, particularly the presidential election and its conduct by the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as an institution, against which vile and unsubstantiated allegations were hurled. The clear intent of this was creating an atmosphere of fear, polarising the public and demonising the administration of the President.

“The wishful thinkers appeared to assume that the June 12, 1993 election crisis, the worst ever since the Civil War could be recreated. Those who sought to do this forgot what the President said at the palace of the Gbong-Gwon Jos, when he went to the city to inaugurate the Tinubu-Shettima campaign: ‘this election will not be annulled; whoever is the winner will be president,’” Shehu, who revealed this in the piece chronicling key takeaways from the President’s recently-concluded trip to Doha, Qatar, said.

“President Buhari not only muted himself following the cacophony, he picked up international travel: Bola Tinubu’s election stands. If you are aggrieved, and you have the locus to do so, go to court.

“President Buhari used the opportunity of the visit to speak to his guests about the recent election in Nigeria and the fact that a new President would be taking over in less than three months. He hoped that the strong relations he had built between those countries will continue to endure in the new administration.

“The highlight of the conference for Nigeria was the national address on the theme of this year’s event ‘From Potential to Prosperity,’ a speech that observers described as strikingly activist. In it, the President criticised the current structure of the global financial system which, he said, ‘places an unsustainable external debt burden on the most vulnerable countries,’” he added.

Recall President Buhari had repeatedly affirmed his resolve to conduct a transition election that would be adjudged free, fair and credible, declaring his position to ensure Nigerians are given ample chance to elect their choice of leaders without interference by party leanings. Premised around the promise were the signing into the law, the Electoral Act, 2022, and the introduction of new technology for the elections.

Although, both the new system of technologies and body of electoral law faced strong resistance, the President gave his nod, declaring resolve to ensure an election devoid of malpractices. Although there were preparatory elections as of those of Osun and Ekiti States gubernatorial elections in 2022, the outcome of the February 25 presidential and NASS election has generated much reactions, with calls from some quarters for the cancellation of the polls. The outcome of the presidential election has been much contested.

Frontline contenders with Tinubu at the presidential poll which include the duo of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), who were defeated at the polls, have declared their resolve to explore legal mechanisms to challenge the outcome of the election in court, alleging electoral fraud.

Both PDP and LP had since rejected the outcome of the election and vowed to challenge it in court.