(Seychelles News Agency) - The President of Seychelles, James Michel has sent a message of congratulations to the newly-elected Nigerian head of state, Muhammadu Buhari.

In a press statement issued by the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Michel described President Buhari’s victory as a “strong reflection of the trust that the Nigerian people had placed in him to propel Nigeria to even greater heights”.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands situated off the eastern coast of Africa established diplomatic relations with Nigeria in January 1977.

“We have throughout the years undertaken commendable strides especially within the context [of] south-south cooperation, as can be exemplified in the endeavours of the technical aids corps on Seychelles,” noted President Michel.

Michel expressed hopes that Nigeria and Seychelles would boost their bilateral and multilateral collaborations even further, offering his “unwavering commitment” to work closely with Buhari on “issues of mutual concern” for the development of both countries and the continent as a whole.

Historic victory

Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential elections by 2.57 million votes, defeating his opponent Goodluck Jonathan in a landmark victory for Africa’s most populous nation.

The country has endured six military coups since it gained its independence in 1960. Jonathan’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then came into power for sixteen years of civilian rule.

According to AFP reports, Buhari hailed his success as a victory for democracy in an early morning speech in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Wednesday.

“Our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to peacefully change an incumbent president in a free and fair election," he said. "To me this is indeed historic."