President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed happiness over the outcome of the peacefully conducted Republic of Niger election, saying that the nation’s stability is important to Nigeria.
Buhari made the remark on Monday when he received the report on the election from former vice president, Namadi Sambo, who is ECOWAS Head of Mission on the election in Republic of Niger.
“We are concerned about their stability, and I am glad the elections went well. I am happy it was transparent, as attested to by most of the observers,” Buhari said.
He congratulated Sambo and his team for a job well done, stating, “I am glad you came back with good news.”
The ECOWAS Head of Mission on the election said he met with all the stakeholders before the polls, which went into run-off after the initial exercise in December last year was inconclusive, “and we observed about 400 polling units in five regions of the country, and the process was peaceful, done professionally. Every citizen was given the right to vote and be voted for.”
The candidate of the ruling party was announced by the electoral body as having won more than 50% of the votes, a decision disputed by the opposition candidate, who has now approached the constitutional court for redress.
It is the court which has powers to declare a winner in an election, according to the Constitution of Republic of Niger.
Former Vice President Sambo described the election as “a great improvement on that of December 27 last year,” and thanked President Buhari for facilitating the transportation needs of his team.
