Erstwhile speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed, Acting Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS) of the University of Ilorin, Dr Ma'fouz Adedimeji, former Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Barrister Segun Olawoyin and a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service, Prince Suleiman Ayodele Fagbemi, in Ilorin yesterday posited that the concession of defeat by contestants in the general elections was a new trend in the nation's democratic experience.

They spoke in separate telephone interviews with The Herald.

In his comment, the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Babatunde Mohammed explained that acceptance of defeat by certain politicians in the just concluded elections was good tiding for the country's democratic development.

He said with the current reality in the polity, the political class should continue to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship whenever fortune did not smile on their way in any political contest.

Mohammed said, "With what we have seen in the last few days, I believe gone are the days that candidates at the election would be demoralized on the outcome of elections. Our experience showed that our politics is maturing and growing".

The former speaker also applauded Kwara Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate and his running mate, Senator Simeon Ajibola and Alhaji Yinka Aluko, for setting precedence in the state polity by congratulating Governor of Abdulfatah Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared winner in the governorship poll.

He appealed to PDP supporters to continue to work for progress and development of the state.

The Unilorin Director CPSS, Adedimeji described the concession of defeat by some politicians as a wonderful and welcome development, pointing out that it was an indication of how Nigeria could be.

The don, who is a senior lecturer in Department of English of the university, recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan led by example when he conceded defeat and congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential poll.

He said it was a new chapter in the history of Nigerian polity where winners were also expected to be magnanimous in victory.

The former permanent secretary in the state, Fagbemi said acceptance of defeat by Senator Ajibola portends good omen that together "we can develop our dear state of Kwara".

He, however maintained that winners in the election must submit themselves to the principle of no victor, no vanquished.

Similarly, a former council chairman of Offa Local Government, Olawoyin said it was a new trend in the country's democratic journey.

Olawoyin, who recently defected to the APC from the PDP, urged politicians to see that power belongs to God.

The executive chairman of Moro local government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Ajibola said in reaction to the call by the PDP governorship aspirant and his running mate Senator Simeon Ajibola and Alhaji Yinka Aluko on Governor Ahmed conceding defeat that they have now realised that they are no body in the state but just tried their luck.

"They have now realised that they are not accepted at all hence they have accepted the governor as governor and senator Bukola as a leader in the state".

On his own, the chairman of Ilorin west local government, Alhaji Tajudeen Sulu Oloje said Yinka Aluko accepted defeat in good faith, but never the less, he betrayed the Saraki dynasty.