Obama Commends Buhari, Jonathan

The U.S. President, Barack Obama, on Wednesday commended President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, and current President, Goodluck Jonathan, following the outcome of the presidential election.

In a statement, the U.S. President, who praised Nigeria’s commitment to democracy said: “I urge President-elect Buhari and President Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the election outcomes, focus on unifying the country, and together lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition.”

Ahead of the general elections, President Barack Obama, had sent a special message to Nigerians, urging a credible and peaceful polls.

In the message sent directly to Nigerians, President Obama reminded the nation about its struggle for independence from colonialism, the struggle against military dictatorship and the need to turn the country’s diversity into a source of strength.

Positive reactions have continued to trail Nigeria’s conduct of its 2015 general elections with the South African President, Jacob Zuma, also commending Nigeria’s successful and peaceful conduct of the presidential election.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, says the way the presidential election in Nigeria was conducted is “a testament” to Nigeria’s “democratic spirit”.

Mr Ban Ki-Moon also commended President Jonathan for “his statesmanship in upholding the democratic process”.

General Muhammadu Buhari was declared the winner of the Presidential election in the early hours of Wednesday and has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He defeated Nigeria’s incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, by over 2 million votes, in a keenly contested election which held on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

This is the first time an opposition party is winning the presidential election in Nigeria.

Before handing over the certificate to General Buhari, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, pledged that the commission would continue to do its best, under all circumstances, to ensure free, fair and credible elections.