The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s success at the poll as a “well-deserved victory.”
Buhari was on Wednesday declared winner of the 2019 Presidential Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The students’ assertion was contained in a congratulatory message issued by the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr Bestman Okereafor, in Enugu.
He attributed the victory to the large turnout of students and youths during the election.
Okereafor, while acknowledging that there were some hitches in some parts of the country, “before, during and after the elections ranging from violence, killing of ad-hoc staff, burning of INEC offices, malfunctioning card reader among others,” called on the other political parties especially the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to honourably accept defeat.
The message read in part: “The leadership of the apex students governing body, NANS, heartily congratulates President Buhari over his well-deserved victory following his declaration as winner of the 2019 Presidential Election by the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
“This movement to victory had been made possible through the large turnout of Nigerian students and youths who are obviously the major determinants of the 2019 Election.
“Atiiku and other contestants should congratulate the President-Elect in the spirit of true sportsmanship and in the best interest of our democracy.”
On the hitches noticed in the course of the elections, The NANS PRO said; “We believe all these will be addressed in subsequent elections.
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“Even as we pray to God to grant the families and loved ones of all those who sacrificed their lives during the course of the election, you will forever be remembered as heroes and heroines of our democracy.
“NANS is on a final note calling on President Buhari to remain just, fair and accessible to all.
“Even as we expect him to extend hands of fellowship to the other intellectual and incorruptible contestants regardless of party affiliations, who can also form part of his cabinet with the aim of moving the nation forward.
“Once again Nigerian students both home and Diaspora say congratulations Mr President.”
President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, received 15,191,847 votes, and won in 19 states while his closest rival Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate received 11,262,978 votes from 17 states.
