The just-concluded American presidential and congressional elections have largely restored the United States to its pride of place as the leader of democracy and freedom in the world. Despite the oft-dirty happenings on the campaign trail, Americans and the world can look back on the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 election with a sigh of relief. All is well that ends well.

The candidate of the opposition Republican Party, billionaire Donald John Trump, braved the odds (including three failed assassination attempts on him) and swept to a landslide win that gave no room for reasonable disputes. As of Thursday morning, with Arizona and Nevada results yet to be reported, Trump nicked 295 electoral college votes needed for victory, compared to his Democratic Party rival, Kamala Harris, who had 226. 270 electoral votes.

The Republicans took control of the Senate with 52 seats, while the Democrats had 44, with four seats to go. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans were also ahead with 205 seats, while the Democrats had 190, with 40 seats yet to be declared.

American politicians pleasantly surprised many in the manner with which the highly contentious process ended. Trump promised to unite the country and bring on a “golden age”. Also, Harris called the winner, congratulated him and asked her supporters to accept the results. Indeed, President Joe Biden invited Trump to the White House for a smooth transition to be initiated. These noble gestures by both sides helped to douse tensions and fears of post-election violence.

This was totally different from the situation that unfolded after Biden was declared president-elect in 2020. Trump, the Republican Party candidate, had been well ahead of Biden and was already preparing to deliver his victory speech when suddenly, over two million mail-in ballots that arrived late in the state of Pennsylvania, tipped the election in favour of the candidate of the Democratic Party candidate, Biden.

The anger over what the Republicans saw as “rigging” led to an uprising that saw the invasion of the Capitol, the legislative complex in Washington, which Democrats called a “coup attempt” by Trump’s supporters.

The general elections of 2020 thus dragged American democracy to the level of many Third World countries due to the perception of compromise. This time was different because no such perception was created. The electoral umpires across the United States of America were above board, and the emergence of a clear winner put the patriotic burden on the loser to congratulate him.

That way, America’s democracy and Americans emerged the real winners. We in Nigeria witnessed this moment of nobility in April 2015 when the loser congratulated the winner and saved the country. To entrench democracy, we must do it again.

Without free and fair election, democracy is doomed. Violence and war could follow.