Tinubu took advantage of disunited opposition for victory — Kachikwu

Dumebi Kachikwu, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has commented on the recent victory of Bola Tinubu, the President-Elect from the All Progressives Congress, in the presidential and National Assembly elections. Kachikwu attributed Tinubu’s success to the disunity among the opposition, which he claimed was characterized by candidates running on divisive platforms of ethnicity and religion. He criticized the presidential candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party for failing to demonstrate leadership by not setting aside their minor differences to create a strong opposition against a non-performing government.

In a statement released to journalists on Friday, Kachikwu noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Tinubu the President-Elect after he received the highest number of votes in the election held on Saturday. Kachikwu remarked, “The victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the just concluded presidential poll is a clear case of consistency and preparation meeting opportunity.” He described Tinubu as a determined fighter with a deep understanding of the Nigerian political landscape, who capitalized on the fragmentation of the opposition, which included candidates focused on divisive issues.

Kachikwu further asserted that the electoral distortions caused by the four leading parties were not substantial enough to change the election’s outcome. He had previously warned that voting for the Labour Party would ultimately support an APC victory. He criticized the PDP and Labour Party candidates for their lack of leadership, stating that they missed the opportunity to unite against a non-performing government and were now attempting to form an alliance of “sore losers” after their defeat.

Additionally, Kachikwu addressed the role of the clergy in the political landscape, suggesting that their involvement in campaigns from their places of worship should be reconsidered. He emphasized the need to distinguish between divine guidance and personal biases. He posed a thought-provoking question about Nigeria’s identity: “Are we a nation of sinners in search of a saint or a nation of the lost in search of a leader?” He concluded by urging Nigerians to unite and move forward in the challenging task of nation-building.