The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi, has said that Liberia has now set a high bar for African countries to follow in election management after concluded the Presidential elections without rancour and litigation.
Obi contested the Nigeria's presidential election and challenged the outcome up to the Supreme Court after the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate as winner in a questionable circumstances.
Although, the Nigeria's apex court had affirmed the victory of Tinubu as the validly elected president of Nigeria, greater number of Nigerians still believe that he didn't win the election. But the Supreme Court judgment affirming him was based on technicality.
SaharaReporters had reported on Saturday that President George Weah conceded defeat late Friday after provisional results from the week's runoff vote showed opposition party candidate, Joseph Boakai, beating him by just over 1 percentage point.
Elections officials said that with 99.58% of ballots counted from Tuesday's election, Boakai was in the lead, with 50.89% to Weah's 49.11%. The results were a dramatic reversal from the election six years ago when Weah easily beat Boakai in the second round.
"The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voice," Weah had said in an address to the nation, adding that Boakai "is in a lead that we cannot surpass”.
"I urge you to follow my example and accept the result of the elections," he said, adding that "our time will come again" in 2029.
Reacting to the election result announced by the Librarian electoral Commission, Obi stated that Liberia has set a standard for African countries to follow, adding that he had followed with very keen interest, "the just concluded and seamless Presidential elections in our West African neighbour, Liberia."
Obi, a Nigerian politician and former Governor of Anambra state in the South East Nigeria, however, congratulated the declared winner, former Vice President and now President-elect of Liberia, Joseph Bokai of the Unity Party.
He said, "I also extend my congratulations to the president, H.E. George Weah, who has graciously conceded defeat, and thank him especially, for his exemplary respect for democracy and the rule of law.
"Finally, I'd like to especially congratulate the entire people of Liberia, and salute their National institutions, particularly the Electoral Commission of Liberia who by their respective exemplary conducts, have added fillip to the credibility of the elections, and in so doing, strengthened democracy in Liberia and Africa.
"Liberia has set a high bar for African countries to follow in the way they have conducted and concluded the Presidential elections without rancour and litigation. I wish them well and a smooth transition and continuity in governance."