President Muhammadu Buhari has offered an explanation for the reasons behind the defeat of opposition parties in the 2023 general elections. Speaking during a meeting with APC governors at the state house in Abuja, Buhari noted that while the APC had worked tirelessly to retain the presidency, the other parties had been complacent and relied on a “false hope”.

Buhari commended the APC for striking a balance between confidence and caution, and for putting in the necessary effort to secure the victory. In contrast, he criticised the opposition parties for their inability to accept defeat and move on.

In summary, Buhari attributed the victory of the APC in the 2023 general elections to the party’s hard work and careful planning, while highlighting the shortcomings of the opposition parties.

“They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from the outside why they are unable to beat us,” he said.

“A combination of overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?

“An important reason I congratulate Asiwaju on winning is that the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will win, that they will defeat us. How more wrong could anyone be?”

Buhari encouraged the governors to persist in resolving challenges and confronting important matters among themselves through candid discussions. He further stated that engaging in open dialogue would enhance their political sustainability.