President Muhammadu Buhari says he was shocked by the resoluteness of voters in the February 25 and March 18 elections whom he described as “ordinary” and “usually underrated” citizens.

Considered the third force in the elections, the Labour Party and its adjunctive Obidient Movement have been the most vociferous and expressly determined to change the course of Nigeria’s political pathways, resulting in several surprise electoral outcomes. Many Nigerian youths are the oxygen of the movement who are vehemently against the political establishment.

“It is a testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter. What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who was usually underrated made the point of his political understanding of things,” the Nigerian president explained.

He further stated, “Assumption is always that you are governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career. No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth.”

According to Mr Buhari, the 2023 elections proved the growing strength of Nigeria’s democracy and the sophistication of the Nigerian voter when it comes to the choice of leaders.

His media aide, Garba Shehu, stated in Abuja on Thursday that the president made the remark when he hosted the newly-installed Emir of Dutse, Muhammad Sunusi, who visited him.

Mr Buhari noted that failure by 10 sitting governors to get elected into the Senate showed that there was no longer a guaranteed route to power and the voter is truly the king when it comes to choices.

After listening to the emir who listed projects executed in Jigawa by the Buhari administration and requested for more, the president promised to do his best for the state in his remaining time in office.

He also pledged to brief incoming-President Bola Tinubu on the requests made and noted that the particular problem of water shortage in Dutse was worrisome.

(NAN)