The United Kingdom has said that Nigerians have demonstrated resilience and commitment to democracy following the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.
It said the results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was in tandem with those of the Parallel Voters Tabulation (PVT) employed by the civil society for the election.
The position of the UK is contained in a congratulatory message to Nigeria by the Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, over the successful conduct of the election.
It, however, called on any aggrieved person or group that might have felt displeased with the outcome of the results to seek redress legally in a peaceful manner.
Also, it called on the Nigerian government to probe all cases of irregularities and ensure justice.
“We urge any party or individual who wishes to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel and we encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible,” it said.
UK commiserated with the families of those who died in the course of the election, saying “no one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights.”
It pledged to support the government and the civil society in strengthening the nation’s democracy.
INEC, on Wednesday declared President Buhari as the winner of the presidential election.
He contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The presidential candidate of the leading opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has however rejected the results saying they were incorrect.
He has vowed to go to court to seek justice.
