Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Major General Umaro Sissoco Embaló (Retd), on behalf of all ECOWAS institutions and leadership congratulate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President- elect on his victory at the poll.

This is even as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and African Union (AU), Election Observation Missions (EOM), call for calm.

ECOWAS Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “On behalf of His Excellency General Umaru Sissoco Embalo, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the entire ECOWAS Leadership, we wish to convey our heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

General Embalé also appeals to all the stakeholders to promote peace and to use constitutional means to address any grievances they may have.

APC congratulate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President– elect

Earlier, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and African Union (AU), Election Observation Head of Missions had in a statement jointly signed by former Presidents of Sierra Leone and Kenya, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma and Uhuru Kenyatta, also  called for calm, and admonished aggrieved persons to seek redress through established legal channels.

The statement reads in part, “the Heads of the Election Observation Missions of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Africa Union (AU), note with concern signs of increasing tensions in the country following the 25th February general elections. As we follow the progressive collation and release of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), we wish to remind all stakeholders that the electoral process is still ongoing.

While we recognize that the tallying of results at all levels is a critical part of the process, we urge INEC, to expedite the transparent release of results to the general public, in order to ease anxieties and tensions”.

The multilateral institutions also called on all political parties and their candidates to appeal to their supporters to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from the use of provocative language and the dissemination of misinformation and dis-information, which would only exacerbate political tensions, divisiveness, and violence at this critical stage, with the potential to undermine the progressive democratic progress Nigeria has continuously made over the years.

The statement however, exhort the electorate to maintain the patience so far demonstrated in the electoral process.

“We also urge the security agencies to continue to professionally discharge their duties with utmost respect for the rule of law. We further call on political parties and their candidates to settle electoral disputes through peaceful means and dialogue, in accordance with the law. We remain confident in the strong commitment of the Nigerian government and her people to peace, stability, and development and reaffirm our commitment to accompany the country in advancing these important goals,” the statement concluded.