Presidential Poll: Ban Ki-Moon Congratulates Buhari

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has congratulated President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress. Ban in a statement issued on Tuesday night in New York, said he had spoken to President Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari on the outcome of the polls as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Buhari was announced the winner by the electoral umpire, Prof. Attahiru Jega, ahead of the incumbent in a keenly contested March 28 election. Buhari polled 15,424,921 votes to defeat Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, who got 12,853,162 votes. Ban commended Jonathan for his leadership qualities throughout the electoral process and his statesmanship in upholding the democratic process. He also applauded the INEC for organising the elections in a professional and credible “manner under challenging circumstances”. The UN Chief called on all Nigerians to accept the outcome of the elections. Ban also appeals to them to address any complaints they may have through existing legal and constitutional channels. The Secretary-General said the successful conduct of the polls was a testimony to the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy. He expressed hope that the same democratic spirit would prevail in the conduct of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on April 11.