‘We’ve not sent him,’ as Ghanaians disown Pres. Akufo-Addo for congratulating Tinubu

Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo was at the receiving end of severe backlash from his citizens over a statement posted via his personal Twitter handle congratulating Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu following his declaration as winner of the February 25 presidential elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Tinubu as winner and president-elect after polling the highest number of votes cast during the presidential poll, last Saturday, among a total of 18 presidential candidates who contested the election held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, last Saturday.

However, protests and rejections erupted even before the final over the outcome against conduct of INEC during and after the polls, as opposition parties rejected the results and the collation process.

Similarly, the country’s former heads of state, as well as international election observer groups in the various preliminary reports faulted the process and conduct of the polls, even as some called for its cancellation. 

Reacting to Tinubu’s victory at the disputed polls, the Ghanaian President, Thursday, took to his personal Twitter account (@NAkufoAddo)to tweet a congratulatory message to the Nigerian politician, as well as, commend the other presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively, ‘for their vigorous, well-fought campaigns.’

“On behalf of the Ghanaian people and their Government, I extend warm congratulations to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his victory in the Nigerian presidential election of Saturday, 25th February.

“President-elect Bola Tinubu’s victory has ensured that the ruling APC Government has been given four (4) more years to continue in office, which, I am hopeful, will go a long way to enhancing the quality of governance, the rule of law and the performance of the Nigerian economy.

“The presidential candidates of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the Labour Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively, are to be commended for their vigorous, well-fought campaigns.

“I am confident that their reactions to the results of the election will reinforce the boundaries of Nigerian democracy, and consolidate the peace and stability of Nigeria, Africa’s giant.

“It is my expectation that the President-elect would continue in the stead of past Nigerian leaders, and deepen even further the strong friendship that exists between Nigeria & Ghana, which has been based on a shared agenda of freedom, dev’t, security, progress and prosperity.

“Warm congratulations, once again, to President-elect Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, and to the people of Nigeria. Best wishes for his and Nigeria’s success,” Prsident Akufo-Addo’s statement read.

However, almost immediately after posting the statement, Ghanaians disowned Akufo-Addo over the message in a barrage of condemnations for the action of their leader, with some even saying ‘No Ghanaian has sent you to congratulate the winner of a rigged election.’

Lenny Makavo (@LennyMakavo)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“I voted for you but i dont endorse this message as a Ghanaian. As a democrat who went to the Supreme court to claim your mandate, kindly allow others to seek theirs……. Unless you endorse everything that went into the electoral process in Nigeria.”

Jorge_Burruchaga

@wotowoto29

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“Nigerians, this man is telling lies.. we’ve not sent him, neither is he our mouthpiece..infact disregard this congratulatory message.. it’s never from Ghanaians.”

Kwesi (@dannida2006)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“On behalf of d people of Gh we deny ever having anything with this congratulatory message….. Thank u!😆”

Assistant Boifrend (@ubahmalino1)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“Ama nne gi shi kwa there,ozu otele ekwensu kporo oku. Better respect your useless old age.”

Kwabena (@J3Kwabena)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“Oo Nana why now……………hmmmmm”

John Wise (@AkobamD3ddy)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“On behalf of the Ghanaian people, I humbly ask that you step down as President of Ghana as soon as possible.”

KOI

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“You must be sick for congratulating Tinubu. Was this the kind of election that brought you into power in Ghana? Well, maybe.”

@MikeTod11

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“And we Ghanaians have no hand in this congratulatory message.”

KwasiDeuces

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“Mr Man please speak for yourself am not part of this your congratulations. please with all due respect sir”

Ansah

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“No Ghanaian has sent you to congratulate the winner of a rigged election.”

In addition to the backlash from his compatriots, some Nigerians also joined in the Twitter conversation by adding:

OkwaraOkwara (@gentlearrow1)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“Challe!!! I have Ghanaians as friends and I can can categorically tell you that they are ashamed of Nigeria. keep your congratulations to yourself. If you must congratulate, do it on behalf of yourself and not for others.”

Adelola👸🏼 Adeniyi MD. (@Adelola_A)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo  and @DocHayKay

“Notice how majority of the Ghanaians here are saying they didn’t ask their president to congratulate anybody till after court rules 🥲🥲.    All I can say is thank you.”

Titilayo Akinsanya (@tityakinsanya)

Replying to @NAkufoAddo

“With due respect to yur excellency Sir, Tinubu was selected. He is @inecnigeria ‘s president, not ours.

And until due process is followed, we hope dat d international community can respect our wish to sort out ds internal issue.”

It would be recalled that a similar backlash from compatriots had trailed, last Thursday’s decision by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Rishi Sunak to congratulate the Nigerian President-elect, in a tweet posted via his verified personal Twitter handle.

The UK Prime Minister had opted to use his personal social media account to officially recognise the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the February 25 Presidential election.

Reacting to the emergence of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect, Wednesday evening, the British PM, Mr. Sunak opted to use his personal Twitter handle (@RishiSunak) instead of the country’s High Commission in Nigeria to push his congratulatory message.

The UK leader in the message also expressed the hope to ‘grow our security and trade ties, opening up opportunities for businesses and creating prosperity’ in both countries under the tenure of Tinubu.

“Congratulations to @officialABAT on his victory in Nigeria.  

“The UK-Nigeria relationship remains strong. I look forward to working together to grow our security and trade ties, opening up opportunities for businesses and creating prosperity in both our countries,” Sunak posted.

However, barely hours after Sunak’s message went live, a barrage of tweets from both Nigerians and Britons responded by berating the British PM for his action in ‘recognising a stolen mandate of the people.’

This is even as some asked the British PM if this was how he got elected to office.

Some of the reactions follows:

Samuel Ajayi (@SamdGreat01)

Replying to @RishiSunak  and @officialABAT

“You’re congratulating someone who rigged his way, and overturned the will of the people in conjunction with corrupt electoral body.

“Mr prime minister, this is an illegitimate process that produced him, it’s not recognized by our electoral act.”

Yaz MorningStar (@iamakpunk)

Replying to @iamakpunk @RishiSunak and @officialABAT

“Reading Everyone’s comments. It is clear your New President allegedly rigged the election. Our unelected Prime Minister will not hold an Election. He knows he will lose badly. A bad 2023 for all involved!”

Stallon (PO)(@Stallonking22)

Replying to @RishiSunak  and @officialABAT

“Oga, the results released were marred with “monumental irregularities” and the failure of the commission to follow its guidelines in conducting the election. 🙏 withdraw the congrats. @PeterObi

 is our president.”

I P C (@ipcjustice)

Replying to @RishiSunak  and @officialABAT

“Democracy and the will of the people is under attack, with serious ramifications for the world.

When elections are rigged or manipulated in such a glaring fashion as we all witnessed in Nigeria, and the will of the people is stolen, this undermines the very foundation of democracy.

“The effects of the Nigerian election will have implications not only for Nigeria but for the entire world. “The international community has a vested interest in promoting democracy and ensuring that the will of the people is respected, as this promotes stability, prosperity, and peace.”

Máyégú (@airgist)

Replying to @RishiSunak  and @officialABAT

“You congratulate a stolen mandate? Is that what democracy mean to you? Then we shouldn’t be fighting Ukraine war!”

The UK, in an official statement through its Foreign Secretary, MP James Cleverly, later same Thursday, however, did congratulate the Nigerian government on the successful elections, even as it was quick, in the same statement, to urge President Muhammadu Buhari works towards resolving all concerns raised by the electorate, opposition political parties and other stakeholders over the disputed elections in the country.

“The United Kingdom commends Nigerian voters for their participation in the Presidential and National Assembly elections and for their patience and resilience in exercising their democratic rights. We congratulate the President Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We note the position of opposition parties on the election outcome and the concerns expressed by observer missions and civil society about the organisation of the process, including delays and technical challenges.

“We encourage the authorities to examine all concerns carefully, take action to resolve outstanding issues and focus on delivering the will of the Nigerian people,” read the statement by the British Foreign Secretary, Wednesday.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, early Wednesday morning, declared Tinubu, as winner of the presidential election.

Announcing the final result of the poll, at about 4am, Wednesday inside the International Conference Centre, venue of the National Collation Centre, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, declared Tinubu as President-elect having polled the highest number of votes across the country.

A total of 18 presidential candidates contested the election held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Saturday.

The election was postponed till Sunday in some polling units in different states due to violence, logistical problems, theft of BVAS and other issues.

After collation at state INEC collation centres, the election results were presented by state collation officers for the presidential election (SCOPs) before the INEC chairman at the National Collation Centre.

Mahmood announced that Tinubu won the election with the majority of votes cast in 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.

The APC candidate polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat fellow contenders; Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 6,984,520 votes, Labour Party’s Peter Obi had 6,101,533 votes to come third and candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso with 1,496,687 votes.

Of the 36 states and FCT, Tinubu and Atiku won 12 states each, as Obi clinched 11 states plus the Federal capital Territory (FCT), while Kwankwaso won only Kano State.

However, even before the final results were announced, protest over the outcome and conduct of INEC during and after the polls, had erupted, as opposition parties rejected the results and the collation process.

Similarly, the country’s former heads of state, as well as international election observer groups have faulted the process and conduct of the polls, as some called for its cancellation.