Bola Tinubu declared President of Nigeria

Words Sarah Adama

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos and godfather, has won the Nigerian Presidential Election in what has been the country’s tightest race since its return to democracy in 1999.

Amongst his rivals were Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP). Tinubu, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) secured a victory with a total of 8.8million votes to defeat his main rival Atiku Abukakar. Atiku trailed behind with 7 million votes, failing in his sixth attempt to become Nigeria’s President. Tinubu was declared winner by Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

There has been significant support for Peter Obi, who has come in third place but majorly disrupted an existing system dominated by two big parties, the APC and PDP. Mostly backed by many of Nigeria’s urban, youth and educated middle-class voters, Obi secured 6.1million votes, won majority votes in the capital Abuja and 11 unlikely states, including President-elect Tinubu’s home state Lagos where he governed for eight years between 1999 and 2007.

On Tuesday, a coalition of opposition parties led by PDP and Labour Party called for a cancellation of results and a rerun due to alleged irregularities and the collation of results, namely the electrocal’s commission’s failure to promptly upload results from nearly 177,000 polling stations. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo penned an open letter to the President Muhammad Buhari calling for transparency and credibility in the electoral process.

In accepting his victory, Tinubu promised to work for all, including his non-supporters. He has extended a hand to opposition candidates to work together in nation building.

“This is a serious mandate - I hereby accept it. To serve you and to be your leader. To work with you and make Nigeria great. I appeal to my fellow contestants to let us team together.”

Regardless of who emerged victorious, statements have been made. Nigerians must now work together to build Nigeria. I am reminded of a statement made by a fellow Nigerian citizen, “we all belong to this nation, and together we will make it work.”