The All Progressive Congress has asked US President Donald Trump to emulate his Nigerian counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari after losing an election.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary of the party’s Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, John Akpanudoedehe.
Akpanudoedehe in the statement titled “The integrity of a leader is as important as strong institutions,” condemned the invasion of the Capitol Hill by pro-Trump protesters and faulted Trump’s refusal to concede defeat in the presidential poll.
The party said President Buhari contested and lost elections a couple of times and followed the process through to the Supreme Court on all accounts, lauding his example as ‘an outstanding credential of a true democrat’.
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.”
The party equally responded to the opposition People Democratic Party’s statement that Buhari and APC should concede defeat if they lose in the 2023 general elections.
The APC 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.
“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.”