Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday congratulated Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election for a second successive term as the President of Nigeria.

Buhari has been re-elected for a second four-year term, according to final results from Saturday’s general election.

Buhari, 76, defeated his main rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with a margin of just under four million votes.

Mr Abubakar’s People’s Democratic Party has rejected the result.

Delays and violence marred the run-up to the poll but no independent observer has cited electoral fraud.

Turnout was just below 35% of registered voters, according to the Nigerian electoral commission (Inec).

In a congratulatory message Wednesday Akufo-Addo described Buhari’s re-election as “a renewal of the confidence the Nigerian people have in his programme of governance, which is hinged on job creation, diversification of the economy, particularly the strong revival of Nigeria’s agriculture, and the fight against corruption.”

Akufo-Addo said it was his sincere hope that “President Buhari will continue on the path of delivering unity, security, progress and prosperity to the Nigerian people. It is also my overriding hope that, during his second term, the already strong relations between Ghana and Nigeria will be deepened even further, on a shared agenda of stability, security, development and prosperity.”

Akufo-Addo also commended the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for a “vigorous, well-fought campaign” and applauded his decision to ventilate his dissatisfaction with the results of the election through a constitutional process.

“It is testimony to his credentials as a well-established statesman. Strengthening the frontiers of Nigerian democracy, and consolidating the peace and stability of Nigeria, Africa’s giant, are important for the progress of our region and continent,” Akufo-Addo.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM