Former Senator Shehu Sani has claimed that since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, former President Goodluck Jonathan is the only presidential candidate who has ever congratulated a winner after an election. The outspoken former lawmaker made this statement following the recent peaceful concession by Ghana’s vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, after his defeat in the presidential election.
On Saturday, Ghana’s presidential election results were declared, with Mahamudu Bawumia conceding defeat and offering his congratulations to opposition leader John Mahama, who was declared the president-elect. This act of sportsmanship was praised by many as a demonstration of democratic maturity and peaceful transition. However, Sani used this moment to reflect on the state of electoral politics in Nigeria.
Writing on his verified X account, Sani remarked, “Since our independence in 1960, the only presidential candidate who congratulated the winner was Goodluck Jonathan (I stand to be corrected).” His comment highlights the ongoing issue in Nigeria, where post-election conduct often involves long periods of legal battles, protests, and a lack of cooperation between competing parties.
Sani went on to criticize the tradition of antagonism in Nigeria’s electoral process, stating, “We don’t congratulate each other after the election, na fight continues until another election.” This, he argued, is a problem that undermines the integrity of the electoral process and prolongs the tensions that often follow an election cycle.
In his tweet, Sani added a stark metaphor to emphasize the point, saying, “If you decide to wait for a phone call Congratulations, your battery will die.” This remark drew attention to the absence of good sportsmanship in Nigeria’s political culture, where candidates often refuse to acknowledge the winner or offer congratulations.
The former senator’s comment has sparked a wider conversation about electoral transparency and democratic maturity in Nigeria. While many supporters of Jonathan praise his concession after the 2015 presidential election, others believe that Nigeria’s political culture remains entrenched in a “winner-takes-all” mentality, where the aftermath of elections is often marked by conflict and division rather than unity.
