UK congratulates President Buhari over his victory in the 2019 election

A statement from the British High Commission
in Abuja on Wednesday, quoted the Minister
of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, as
saying “I offer my congratulations to
President Buhari on securing a second term as
the Nigerian President.
“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.
She said the results declared by the
Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) were consistent with the results
obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote
Tabulation process.
“Along with our international partners, the UK
believes the Nigerian people can have
confidence in the result.”

She, however, recognised the concerns
expressed by Nigerians on the conduct of the
electoral process, in particular logistics and
results collation, and reports of intimidation
of electoral officers.
The minister urged any party or individual
who wished to challenge the process to do so
peacefully and through the appropriate legal
channel.
“We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine
all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and
take the necessary action against individuals
found responsible’’.
She also condoled with the families and
friends of those who lost their lives in
election-related violence.
“No one should die in the exercise of their
democratic rights,” she stated.
She reiterated the continued support of the
UK Government to Nigeria and its civil society
“in drawing lessons from these elections and
strengthening its democracy”.
Recall that the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday
declared President Buhari the winner of the
2019 Presidential Elections.