Three-time flagbearer of Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has said the electoral victory of General Mahammudu Buhari in Nigeria’s presidential elections reinforces the notion that the people of a country wield the power to change governments.

The former Military leader polled about 15 million votes ahead of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan’s 13 million votes.

In a congratulatory message, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “This is the first time, in Nigeria’s history, that one democratically elected government has been voted out for another, and that a sitting President has been rejected at the polls. This change, after 16 years of the Fourth Republic, should go a long way to enhancing the quality of competitive governance in Nigeria. It has reinforced the democratic notion that the people have the power to change governments.”

Below is the full statement:

I join well-wishers in the rest of Africa and across the world to extend warm congratulations to the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his decisive victory in the March 28, 29 Nigerian presidential election, thus becoming the next President of the Federal Republic.

Through the peaceful exercise of their sovereign and democratic right to elect their own leaders, the people of Nigeria have strengthened the frontiers of democracy for all other African countries to emulate.

This is the first time, in Nigeria’s history, that one democratically elected government has been voted out for another, and that a sitting President has been rejected at the polls. This change, after 16 years of the Fourth Republic, should go a long way to enhancing the quality of competitive governance in Nigeria. It has reinforced the democratic notion that the people have the power to change governments.

President Goodluck Jonathan is to be commended for graciously conceding defeat, thereby laying to rest any lingering suspicion and anxiety about the fate of Nigeria in the aftermath of the elections.

By their exemplary conduct, both outgoing President Jonathan and his successor have reinforced the resilience of Nigeria's democracy, and demonstrated to the entire world that politics in Africa can be positively competitive, when conducted on the basis of time-honoured principles of transparency, fairness and equal opportunity.

I hope that the determination and perseverance shown over the years by General Buhari, evident in this victory, which is his 4th attempt at the Presidency, will result in him bringing his wealth of experience, as a military ruler and subsequently as an acknowledged democrat, to the fore in delivering unity, security, progress and prosperity to the Nigerian people.

I also hope that the President-elect would continue in the stead of past Nigerian leaders and deepen further the friendship that exists between Nigeria and Ghana, which has been based on a shared agenda of stability, security, development and prosperity.

Warm congratulations once again to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, and best wishes for his success as he prepares to take up the huge responsibilities and challenges of the high office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

……signed……

Nana Akufo-Addo

2016 NPP Presidential Candidate, Ghana