Deputy Women’s Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western Region, Araba Tagoe says President John Dramani Mahama deserves commendation for ensuring peaceful elections in Nigeria as Chairman of ECOWAS.

According to her, this is the first time in decades that the West African country has had an election devoid of civil disturbance and court injunctions.

General Muhammadu Buhari won the election by 2.57 million votes, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in a close fought race.

President Mahama even before the March 28 elections met with both the incumbent, opposition leader, INEC Chairman and Heads of the AU & Commonwealth Observers to ensure that Nigerians remain united after the elections.

“It is clear that Nigeria is all ready, and will come out of the March 28 elections stronger and much more democratic,” the ECOWAS Chair told journalists after the close door meeting.

He further called on the candidates to accept the results in good faith when they are announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Many leaders and political commentators across the globe have subsequently praised Nigerians for exercising their franchise in a peaceful manner befitting democratic principles.

Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, for instance, in a congratulatory message said “with dissatisfaction rife over insecurity and corruption and the economy faltering as oil revenues dive, voters turned out in force sensing an unprecedented opportunity for change in the election.”

In a White House statement, Obama praised the incumbent for conceding defeat saying: “President Jonathan has placed his country’s interests first by conceding the election and congratulating president-elect (Muhammadu) Buhari on his victory.”

Araba Tagoe is of the view that the aforementioned statement by Obama and similar ones made by other leaders could not have been possible without the intervention of the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Mahama.

“Nigeria was in chaos before the elections with Boko Haram tormenting Nigerians. But President Mahama as ECOWAS Chairman has been instrumental in ensuring that the country went through the elections peacefully. President Mahama indeed deserves praises for his leadership qualities,” she said in an interview with Samuel Huntor on Montie FM.

Araba Tagoe further advised politicians in Ghana to learn to concede defeat when they are rejected by the people.