*Poised to step up cooperation with incoming govt, says Russian Foreign Ministry

Russia hails the successful presidential election in Nigeria and reaffirms its readiness to forge the ties of traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

“Moscow welcomes the success of Nigeria’s election and reiterates its willingness to bolster the relationship of traditional friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The election commission announced in the early hours of March 1 that Bola Tinubu, nominated by the ruling party All Progressives Congress, had won the country’s February 25 presidential election securing 8.7 million votes (37%). Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party came second with 6.9 million votes (29%), while third-place finisher Peter Obi of the Labor Party received 6.1 million votes (25%).

Moreover, Tinubu received more than 25% of the vote in two-thirds of the 36 states of the country, which is necessary to win in the first round of the presidential election.

Tinubu will be sworn-in and take office on May 29.