President‑elect Bola Tinubu urged the newly elected governors and legislators on Tuesday to embrace both opponents and supporters in order to build a united Nigeria. While congratulating the winners of Saturday’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections, he emphasized that both victors and the defeated must begin a process of healing. Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, described the elections as pivotal for the growth and sustainability of democracy at the state level. He argued that strengthening democratic governance below the national tier will foster development and improve the quality of life for the masses.
To ensure that citizens reap the dividends of democracy and good governance, the president‑elect called on the newly elected officials to start the healing process and welcome their challengers. “Indeed, the elections are over. The people have voted to elect their governors and state legislators who will serve them for the next four years. The time for leadership and governance is now upon us,” he said. He added that in a democracy the majority must not suppress the minority’s voice, and that free expression must be protected. Winners, he urged, should be magnanimous, while those who did not win should show tolerance and respect for the nation’s greater interest.
Tinubu stressed that elected officials must justify the trust placed in them by committing to public service. “We must all work diligently and sincerely to make life better for the masses. As elected officers, we have no other assignment than to be burden‑bearers for the people and ensure they enjoy the better life we promised during the campaigns,” he declared. He called for urgent steps to unite all citizens—both those who voted for them and those who did not—by championing a healing process that embraces opponents and their supporters. “The time for politicking is gone. This is a time for nation‑building, a task beyond any individual or single segment of society. We need every hand on deck,” he said.
“I am ready to work with you all as your President. I will be a worthy partner you can trust and rely on as we bond together in unity of purpose and renewed hope for the betterment of our blessed country and beloved people,” Tinubu affirmed.
The former Lagos governor also condemned the physical and verbal assaults that occurred during the polls, calling them unacceptable and contrary to democratic principles. “Elections should be a celebration of our maturing democracy and freedom of choice, not moments of grief,” he warned, expressing particular pain over ethnic slurs that create needless mischaracterisation. He appealed for Nigerians to rise above their differences, noting that shared values far outweigh the circumstances of birth. “As former governor of Lagos State, I can attest to the strength in our diversity and togetherness. As your President‑elect, I intend to bring the spirit of inclusiveness we fostered in Lagos to national governance so that together we can attain our full potential.”
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