Kenyan opposition excited by Nigeria election outcome

Kenya's Opposition appeared excited by the events surrounding the Nigerian elections won by opposition candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

Gen Buhari defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Cord leader Raila Odinga, in a congratulatory message dispatched to both the Nigerian president-elect and to outgoing President Jonathan, hailed the unprecedented moment in Nigeria, where the opposition has for the first time won and the incumbent accepting defeat without pressure.

“After the biggest democratic election exercise in Africa, the citizens of the continent’s most populous nation have spoken in clear terms.

“Nigerians have elected General Muhammad Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take charge of their affairs,” said Mr Odinga.

Mr Buhari, who has lost elections three times before, is 72 years old.

Mr Odinga himself will be the same age when Kenya holds the sixth presidential elections in 2017.

ELECTION MYTHS

“I take this opportunity to congratulate the APC candidate in this election, Major Buhari, the party and the people of Nigeria following this election that turns upside down the many myths and deeply held perceptions about winning and losing elections in Africa,” said Mr Odinga.

He also hailed the defeated Nigerian president for his magnanimity, which he said had sent a clear message to living African despots keen to hang on to power even after losing democratic electoral processes.

Said Mr Odinga: “I congratulate the outgoing president, Mr Goodluck Jonathan, for his grace in conceding defeat.

“Jointly with (the) president-elect, Mr Buhari, they have made tremendous contribution to Africa’s journey to democratisation.”

Cord is planning a major retreat for all its MPs where its three principals, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula, are expected to engage MPs and governors from the coalition as they draw a fresh election strategy for 2017.

“We feel inspired by the opposition win in Nigeria. We want to work hard to ensure we do the same in Kenya in 2017 so as to wipe out an absolutely corrupt government from power,” said ODM director of elections Junet Mohammed.