Nigeria Hails Election of Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia’s First Female President

The Nigerian government has congratulated Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on her historic election as the first female President of Namibia. In a statement released on Wednesday by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian government expressed its delight at Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory, which solidifies the ruling of the South West Africa Political Organisation (SWAPO) that has been in power since Namibia’s independence.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the Vice President of Namibia, won over 57% of the votes in the recent election, with her closest competitor, Panduleni Itula, securing 26%. Despite the results being confirmed by Namibia’s Electoral Commission, Itula and his party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), have expressed their dissatisfaction with the election process, citing logistical challenges and alleging flaws in the voting process. Itula has vowed to contest the results in court.

The Nigerian government welcomed the election outcome, noting that the Namibian people voted for peace and stability. The statement added that Nigeria looks forward to strengthening its strong and historic ties with Namibia during Nandi-Ndaitwah’s tenure as president.

In her victory speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah described the election as a vote for peace and stability. She has been a loyal member of SWAPO, which has been the dominant party in Namibia since the country gained independence in 1990.

In addition to Nigeria, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also extended his congratulations to Nandi-Ndaitwah on her election. He praised her victory as a milestone for democracy, noting that her election as the first female president in the region is a testament to the transformative power of democracy.

Once sworn into office, Nandi-Ndaitwah will become Namibia’s fifth president.