Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Rishi Sunak has come under heavy fire barely hours after posting a congratulatory tweet via his verified Twitter handle to Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The UK Prime Minister is now the first world leader to officially recognise the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the February 25 Presidential election.
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.
Hours after the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the February 25 elections, world leaders remained silent in pushing their congratulatory messages. However, by Wednesday afternoon, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Umaru Sissoco Embalo, the body of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Communities congratulated the country on a successful poll.
Reacting to the emergence of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect, Wednesday evening, the British PM, Mr. Sunak opted to use his official and personal Twitter handle (@RishiSunak) instead of the country’s Mission 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.
Below are some of the tweets responding to the British PM over his congratulatory message to Tinubu.
Hon Dino (@Dinokaysman)
Replying to
@RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“Please enough of that Mr prime minister if I may ask is this how you conduct election in UK,why do you guys lower the standard for Africa but raises the bar in your country are we allergic to good governance,why are you congratulating someone that just stole people’s mandate?”
Emmanuel (@emmanetwor)
Replying to @Dinokaysman @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“They need us impoverished so they can survive”
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!”
Kirk xxx (@Kirkxxx1)
Replying to @airgist @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“Biden was congratulated. This is nothing.”
OSY_TALKS (@OSY_TALKS)
Replying to @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“I just wish someone would tell him that just because he emerged as prime minister without winning his people’s mandate doesn’t mean he should congratulate every leader who emerges without their people’s mandate.”
Yoruba Demon 
stan good governance (@foreverkingng)
Replying to @Oluomoofderby @RishiSunak and 2 others
“Their people and companies are numerous here in Nigeria treating Nigerian workers badly while they won’t let us have job security and right in their factories.”
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.”
venoms mum (@Antibullshitte2)
Replying to @ipcjustice @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“There was no elections in Nigeria. The Nigerian govt is an authoritarian regime that will bring back the glory days of authoritarianism in Africa. Mark my words.”
Chikwado Cyprian (@ChikwadoCy)
Replying to @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“This is just a confirmation that the international communities give no damn to the affairs of countries like Nigeria. If such fraud and criminality happened in your country, will it be allowed to stand?
Santos (@Santos09909)
Replying to @AroraGirish @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“For congratulating a thief? A man who stole the people’s mandate? Have you searched informations regarding just conculded Nigeria election?
“Are election won by falsefication of election results in India?”
Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha)
Replying to @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“The 2023 general elections in Nigeria was full of electoral malpractices, especially the presidential election; It’s no news cos there are multiple reports on various social media platforms. The INEC has declared a winner, but let’s not pretend like it was a free & fair election.”
Chikadibia (@valentinowpg)
Replying to @RishiSunak
“Coming from someone who was never elected by the people.. What victory are you talking about?”
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.”
Emerald (@EmeloguEmerald)
Replying to @SamdGreat01@RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“Who own most oil Wells in Nigeria? If you know you know. They will always select those that will protect their investments in Nigeria.
“However, rising to the defence of the British PM, some respondents hailed the message.”
SAMJAY (@SAMJAY463)
Replying to @airgist @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“Stolen from who exactly ? Atiku or obi Shay orie buru ni?”
Girish Arora (@AroraGirish)
Replying to @RishiSunak and @officialABAT
“You are doing a good job Sir, on several fronts simultaneously, best wishes.”