Residents of Bauchi have urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of Saturday’s presidential election.

On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the presidential poll.

Mr Tinubu scored the highest votes, polling 8,794,726 votes.

Some residents in separate interviews in Bauchi concluded that the election was free, fair and devoid of rancour.

 Usman Bappah, a constitutional lawyer, urged supporters of other presidential candidates and citizens to accept the result and place the nation’s interest above personal desires.

Mr Bappah congratulated the president-elect and called on Nigerians to give him the necessary support that would enable him to drive the country to a haven in the nearest future.

Sabo Mohammed, the chairman of the media and publicity committee of the APC campaign council in Bauchi, congratulated Mr Tinubu on his victory, describing it as a major leap for democracy in Nigeria and the black world.

“Tinunbu’s victory, which is the first of such in the country’s political history and a novel occurrence in the African continent, actually tasked the commitment of Nigerians to the entrenchment of representative government,” stated Mr Mohammed.

He added, “I have no doubt in my mind that Bola Tinubu will go down in the history of our nation as a great leader. Tinubu has contributed immensely to nation-building while discouraging corruption in the country. He is one of the pride of this country and a good example to coming generations that this country will not forget you if you persevere and keep to virtues.

Haruna Kumshi, a political analyst in Bauchi, dismissed calls on INEC to cancel the elections due to technical shortcomings. 

“It is clear from what we can see, fair, clear; no problem, no rigging. I hope we shall be able to follow this in future,” said Mr Kumshi.

He, however, advised the incoming APC government at the national level to play politics free from bitterness, rancour and hatred by making the people’s interest paramount and the new government’s driving force. 

(NAN)