The United Kingdom Government has confirmed that the result of the Presidential election results that was released by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as authentic. Harriet Baldwin, the British state Minister for Africa disclosed that the result were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.
In her words, “Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result,”.
INEC Chairman, Proff. Mahmood Yakubu, has on Wednesday morning, declared President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 23rd February election, with 15,191,847 votes. While, his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 11, 262,978 votes.
However, PDP agent at the collation centre declined to sign the results and later Atiku also rejected the verdict claiming he would challenge the outcome in the court. In a press conference on Wednesday, Atiku insisted on his rejection through raising some issues of ‘statistics about the outcome in some states.
Meanwhile, the statement as admitted by the British minister was the first authentication of INEC result.
Baldwin congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for securing a second term as president of the most populous black nation.
In her words, “I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President”, she said in a statement released by the British High Commission in Abuja. “The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.”
Baldwin commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democracy.
The minister urged any party or individual who wished to dispute the process to do so with decorum and via the appropriate legal channel.
She added, “We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of misconduct carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found culpable.’’ She also condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in election-related violence.
