The All Progressives Congress has urged US President Donald Trump to emulate his Nigerian counterpart, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), after losing an election.
The APC made this known in a statement by its Secretary of its Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, titled, “The integrity of a leader is as important as strong institutions’.
The party also condemned the US Capitol Hill riot by pro-Trump protesters and faulted Trump’s refusal to concede defeat in the US November 2020 presidential election.
It stated that in instances where Buhari was dissatisfied with the outcome of an election, he approached the court for redress.
It was reported that Trump’s supporters had stormed a session of Congress held Wednesday to certify Joe Biden’s election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup.
Hours after an extraordinary rally by Trump seeking to overturn the election, a flag-waving mob broke down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed inside, rampaging through offices and onto the usually solemn legislative floors.
At least five persons died in the riot generally believed to be incited by the US president.
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The statement read, “The events of the past 72hrs in the United States of America is to say the least condemnable. Over time, the elections of the US have been used as a touchstone for elections in other democracies.
“It is settled that strong institutions are fundamental to the sustenance of democracies. However, this US election saga strongly underscores the fact that the integrity of the country’s leader essentially complements the workings of these institutions.
“President Muhammadu Buhari contested and lost elections a couple of times and followed the process through to the Supreme Court on all accounts. This is an outstanding credential of a true democrat.
“Upon ultimately gaining victory in 2015, the APC-led administration has carried out fundamental reforms to strengthen our institutions.
“For instance, non-interference in the functions of INEC. The APC has contested elections; won some, lost some without splitting hairs. In fact, at some point, the APC lost over 5 states to the PDP, yet we allowed democracy to prevail. We have remained resolute in our belief that in every electoral contest, popular will must prevail.”
Akpanudoedehe faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s statement warning Buhari and APC to concede defeat if they are defeated in the 2023 general elections.
He said, “This is a far-cry from the days of the do-or-die politics of PDP, where civilians took control of the security apparatus to subvert the people’s will and determine the outcome of elections.
“Electoral reform is a core plank of the programs of the APC-led administration and a legacy that Mr. President has promised to bequeath to Nigerians.
“Therefore the statements by the PDP are merely designed to gain political mileage and only reinforces the disinformation on all issues, which the PDP constantly and laboriously pursues at all times. The positions taken by PDP Governors against these institutional reforms are in the public domain.”
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