Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is excited about the outcome of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi has been declared winner and President-elect by the country’s election body.
PDP Spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement on Friday in Abuja, congratulated the DRC opposition and government-in-waiting for the triumph of the people over undemocratic forces. It is hoping for a repeat in the February 16 Nigeria presidential election.
“The defeat of ruling party’s candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, is another pointer to the impending defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election, as African nations consolidate on entrenching of purposeful leadership in(sic) the continent. It is instructive to note that the people of DRC asserted their power of control and prevailed in enthroning the leadership of their choice, such determination is inevitable in the February 16, 2019 presidential election in Nigeria”, Ologbondiyan said.
Head of DRC’s election management body, Corneille Nangaa had on Thursday declared Tshisekedi winner of the presidential polls with 38.57 percent of the votes, ahead of Martin Fayulu with 34.8 percent while the ruling party’s candidate, Shadaray came third with 23.8 percent.
But runner up, Fayulu, has swiftly denounced the outcome of the election as a sham rigged in a compromise arrangement by outgoing President, Joseph Kabila to safeguard his interests.
“These results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box,” Fayulu told Radio France International.
The DRC election is a major turning point for opposition parties across the continent who have made great gains in recent times. In March last year, opposition candidate in Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio defeated the ruling party’s candidate. In December 2017, opposition George Weah defeated the sitting Vice President Joseph Boakai of Liberia while in December 2016, opposition party candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo defeated the incumbent President of Ghana, John Mahama.
