Nigeria urges Ethiopians to unite against instability after poll

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) – Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged Ethiopians to unite together to halt the country's devolving into civil war after the weekend parliamentary election.

Buhari in a statement, said Ethiopia's stability is critical to progress. He urged opposition parties and all actors in the East African nation to come together to prevent instability, or worse, anarchy in the country.

"Instability is a grave threat to African progress. African countries cannot attain their development goals if every group resorts to violence and destruction," he declared.

Buhari has congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on his and his party's victory.

He urged him to continue his government's good policies for the well-being of Ethiopians and the country's progress.

Abiy's Prosperity Party has won 410 of the 436 seats contested in national parliament, according to the results announced by the country's electoral body over the weekend.

It was Abiy's first election for the position of Prime Minister since his appointment in 2018.

The election was marred by opposition boycotts and political tensions in a country grappling with ethnic violence and conflict in Tigray's northern province.