Buhari’s re-election: A victory for Nigerian masses – CPPM

A Frontline civil society organization which monitored the recently concluded 2019 Presidential election, the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has congratulated and commended Nigerians for their peaceful and orderly conduct in the 2019 Presidential election and which has produced a winner as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in person of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

CPPM via a press statement by it’s National Coordinator, Nelson Ekujumi, stated that it “Joins millions of Nigerians and lovers of democracy worldwide to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election which is a true reflection of the will of the people as expressed at the polls across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February, 2019”.

The group described Buhari’s re-election in the 2019 Presidential election as a victory for the teeming Nigeria masses who had once again reaffirmed their hope and trust in Nigeria’s democracy and in his leadership qualities, which is highly commendable.

While congratulating Buhari on his well deserved re-election, the group charged him to pursue the collective interest of Nigerians and to rededicate himself to the service of the people and urged him to be magnanimous in victory, just as it admonished the losers to be gallant in defeat and rally round the winner for the greater national interest.

The Committee also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a job well done in the face of intimidation, assault, physical and psychological attacks on the commission and its personnel in the discharge of their constitutional responsibility.

The group specially thanked INEC for the discharge of its constitutional functions in a professional and impartial manner in the face of relentless and orchestrated campaign of blackmail and calumny by conducting a free, fair and credible 2019 Presidential elections and which had been applauded by local and international observers as being in line with global best practices.

However, the group called on INEC to immediately carry out a review of its activities in the conduct of the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in order to identify cause(s) of observed lapses with a view to correcting them before the conduct of the March 9, 2019 Gubernatorial and States Houses of Assemblies election.

CPPM commended the security agencies for their professionalism, impartiality and diligence in the discharge of their constitutional duties which contributed in no small measure to the success of the election, even in the face of unprovoked attacks and campaign of calumny by anti democratic elements, while urging them to raise their game in the remaining elections.