The United Kingdom has congratulated the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu received the Certificate of Return as the President-elect of Nigeria on Wednesday.
The certificate was presented to him by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Yakubu declared Tinubu as the winner of the keenly contested election which was held on Saturday, February 25.
In a statement, UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, hailed registered voters for exercising their democratic rights.
Cleverly, however, urged opposition parties to seek legal ways of addressing issues and focus on delivering democracy.
He said, “The United Kingdom commends Nigerian voters for their participation in the presidential and National Assembly elections and for their patience and resilience in exercising their democratic rights. We congratulate the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We note the position of opposition parties on the election outcome and the concerns expressed by observer missions and civil society about the organisation of the process, including delays and technical challenges.
“We encourage the authorities to examine all concerns carefully, take action to resolve outstanding issues and focus on delivering the will of the Nigerian people.”
Meanwhile, a pressure group, under the aegis of Arewa New Agenda, enjoined the president-elect to take decisive steps by extending a hand of fellowship to aggrieved candidates of the major parties to douse the tension across the country who lost the presidential election.
This was as the group called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to exercise restraint over his position on Saturday’s presidential election to avoid throwing the country into anarchy.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, the national Convener of ANA, Senator Ahmad Moallahyidi, said the North urged Nigerians to close ranks and support the incoming administration in the spirit of national cohesion.
While expressing displeasure over the recent calls by Obasanjo for the election to be cancelled, Moallahyidi said such inciting utterances were at variance with peaceful coexistence among peace loving Nigerians.
