President Bola Tinubu celebrated the recent presidential election in Senegal and the general elections in Liberia, seeing them as significant strides in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) campaign for democracy.
Tinubu, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, commended Mr. Bassirou Faye on his election as the President of Senegal and praised incumbent President Macky Sall for overseeing a peaceful and transparent election process.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu Congratulates President-elect Bassirou Dionaye Faye and the People of the Republic of Senegal,’ Tinubu expressed joy at Faye’s unprecedented victory in the presidential election.
The electoral commission reported a turnout of over 61 percent, with more than seven million out of roughly 17 million Senegalese voters participating. Candidates needed to secure over 50 percent of the votes to win.
Although official results are scheduled to be announced by the constitutional council on April 3, preliminary results showed opposition candidate Faye leading with approximately 53.7 percent of the votes. Former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, supported by President Sall, conceded defeat based on these preliminary results.
Faye, a protege of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, has pledged to lead with humility, combat corruption, and safeguard Senegal from external interference.
Tinubu hailed Faye’s victory as a testament to the strength of democracy in West Africa, emphasizing that good governance, justice, and fairness are essential for its growth.
As ECOWAS Chairman, he described the Senegal election’s success as a positive step towards promoting peace and constitutional order in the region.
Tinubu extended his congratulations to the people of Senegal, assuring them of Nigeria’s support and best wishes.
The election marked the first time a sitting president was not on the ballot following term limitations introduced, preventing Sall from seeking a third term.