Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari has sent his congratulatory message to the President-elect of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, on his victory in the just-concluded presidential election of August 12, 2021.

In a press statement released on Monday 16th August 2021 by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari applauded the people of Zambia for coming out in their numbers during the August 12, 2021, presidential election.

It said that President Buhari has commended the Zambian people for coming out to exercise their civic rights, voting candidates of their choice, signposting that the prospect of a united, stable and prosperous Africa lies in the power of the people to freely elect their leaders.

Zambian presidential candidate for the opposition party United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema gives a press conference at his residence, in Lusaka on August 11, 2021. - The UPND, the main rival to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), is eager to tap into mounting disillusionment in the city's poorest neighbourhoods, where dissent has grown since the last 2016 poll. (Photo by Patrick Meinhardt / AFP) — Zambian presidential candidate for the opposition party United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema gives a press conference at his residence, in Lusaka on August 11, 2021. – The UPND, the main rival to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), is eager to tap into mounting disillusionment in the city’s poorest neighbourhoods, where dissent has grown since the last 2016 poll. (Photo by Patrick Meinhardt / AFP)

The statement said also that President Buhari commended President Edgar Lungu for accepting the outcome of the election and a peaceful transfer of power, noting that this patriotic disposition deserves the praise of all lovers of democracy.

Highlighting the close and historic relationship between Nigeria and Zambia, the Nigerian leader looks forward to working very closely with the Zambian President-elect for the peace, development and prosperity of both nations, and in the common commitment to promoting the goals and objectives of our African Union (AU).