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From From Magnus Eze, Enugu, Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri, Gyang Bere, Jos, Laide Raheem, Abeokuta and Okey Sampson, Umuahia, John Adams, Minna
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, continued presentation of Certificates of Return to winners in the March 18 governorship and Houses of Assembly polls.
Those who received certificates included Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat and 40 lawmakers-elect, Plateau State Governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang and deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele and 25 House Assembly-elects.
Others were Sokoto, Gombe and Abia states governors-elect, Ahmad Aliyu, Inuwa Yahaya and Alex Oti, respectively as well as Governors-elect of Enugu, Peter Mbah, Babagana Zulum of Borno and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger.
•Sanwo-Olu: I’ll remain governor of all residents
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called on all those he contested against to join hands with him “to build the Greater Lagos of our dreams” as he promised to remain governor of all residents.
“For those dissatisfied by the outcome of the Governorship Election, there is the legitimate mechanism of redress offered by the judicial system. To all the good people of Lagos State, let us leave no room for hatred, incitement, or violence in our midst.
“The true spirit of Lagos is law-abiding and welcoming of the diversity that defines us — the diversity of ethnicity, of religion, of social class, of political affiliation.”
He said that his re-election would unlock four more years of peace, progress and prosperity for Lagos State as well as another four years of massive infrastructure renewal and development, among others.
Sanwo-Olu urged residents to make it four more years of responsible and law-abiding citizenship, and of fulfilling all their civic obligations to Lagos State.
He said this include obeying the laws of the land, paying taxes as and when due, and being their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
INEC Supervising National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos State, Mr. Sam Olumekun also handed over the Certificates of Return and Deputy Governor-elect, Obafemi Hamzat and 40 lawmakers-elect in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
•Mutfwang extends olive leaf to co-contestants
In Plateau State, INEC presented certificates to Caleb Mutfwang and his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo and 24 House of Assembly members-elect, which included 16 members elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seven APC and one member-elect under the platform of YPP.
Mutfwang said the presentation of the certificate has brought to closure the electioneering process, and thanked Plateau people who trusted them with the mandate to provide inclusive leadership.
“While it is true that along the line some of the adhoc staff who tried to provide room for the process to be sabotaged in one way or the other, but the leadership of INEC on the Plateau stood it ground, following the due process of law and that is why today it has concluded the process that has led to rejoicing across the land.”
Mutfwang described the massive jubilation of Plateau people across the 17 local government areas as total reflection of the outcome of the polls, which was generally accepted and celebrated across ethnic and religious lines.
He called on his friends and brothers whom he contested the governorship election with to join hands with him in the service to Plateau people rather than channeling their energy to litigations.
•Mbah promises open government
Enugu State governor-elect, Peter Mbah, has promised to run an open government devoid of sectionalism, pleading with his co-contestants to join him to move the state forward.
“History will never forgive us if, at a time like this, when we should be pursuing the interest and development of our dear Enugu State, we are still enmeshed in the pursuit of political gains and cleavages.
“It is why I extend my hands of fellowship to all my brothers with whom I ran the race for the hearts of the Enugu electorate. While we have different political platforms to achieving the Enugu dream, we are united by our passion for the growth of our state.
“As I said earlier, politics has ended. Ndi Enugu have shown their preference. Let us end the politics of acrimony and focus on how to move our state forward. Let us recognize that Enugu State is bigger than all of us. We thus must all work in her overall interest, which is development and growth.”
Mbah who also commended the newly elected House of Assembly members and the people of the state, said the large number of votes from all the zones of the state indicated the joint ownership of his mandate.
Mbah received the certificate alongside his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai and 23 State House of Assembly members-elect.
INEC Federal Commissioner, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, Kenneth Ukeagu, who presented the certificates on behalf of the commission announced that a supplementary election for Oji River State constituency will be held on Saturday, April 15.
•I’ll focus on security, youths -Zulun
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has promised to focus on security, youths empowerment and education from May.
He made the promise in Maiduguri after receiving his Certificate-of-Return from INEC.
“We will focus more on security and youth empowerments. We must give attention to quality education, health and and renewal of Maiduguri and Jere,” he pledged.
He thanked God for the opportunity given him again to serve got another four years. He said the opportunity was a renew hope for the people of the state and assured he would work for the good of all the people and accommodate all despite political differences.
He said those who did not win were as good as those who won, calling on all elected persons to embrace all.
“It takes courage to use personal resources, time to go into political contest,” he explained.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Borno, Bauchi and Yobe states, Maj Gen Moddibo Alkali (retd), who presented the certificates to Zulum and 28 elected House of Assembly members, assured the commission’s commitment to use technology to improve elections in Nigeria.
•Mandate call to renewed hope -Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has attributed his victory to God and the benevolence of the people of the state.
Abiodun, who received his certificate of return alongside his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele and 25 winners in the House Assembly elections, equally lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the enabling environment for free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
“This mandate is a call to a renewed hope not just for Ogun State, but the entire nation. I will continue with the people’s oriented programmes that will make life abundant to our people.”
He added that his administration would work towards consolidating the gains made in the first term just as new ideas that would benefit the people would be injected into the system.
“Now that elections have come and gone, I call on all my opponents to come and join hands with our administration to build the future of this state we call our own together”, he enthused
He thanked the security agencies and staff of the electoral commission for working tirelessly to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections in the state.
•Yahaya extends olive branch to co-contestants
Winner of the election in Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya urged his co-contestants to join hands with him to move the state to the next level.
Yahaya made the call on Thursday in Gombe shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from INEC.
“There was no loser in the just concluded governorship election in the state. I urge those that contested in the election in the state, for us there is no victor, there is no vanquish. We are all Gombe people and we shall jointly work to carry the hands of the losers if there is any, to move forward and take Gombe State to the next level,” he said.
The governor thanked all stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring free, fair, peaceful and credible polls in the state.
According to Yahaya, his re-election is an opportunity for him to deliver more dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.
“This certificate we received today is a license for us to go all out to do more so that we can deliver on the mandate and on the needs of the people and provide the dividends of democracy that is widely needed in the country.”
•I’ll deliver –Katsina gov-elect
Katsina State Governor-elect, Dr Dikko Radda, has reiterated his commitment to delivering on his campaign promises upon assumption of office.
Radda stated this in his brief remarks after receiving his certificate of return from Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday in Katsina.
He thanked Governor Aminu Masari, leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and people of the state for their overwhelming support during the last general elections.
During his campaign, the governor-elect had promised to tackle insecurity and improve on education, health, agriculture and economy, among others, if elected.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, while issuing the certificate of return, commended the people of the state for their peaceful conduct during the general elections.
•Victory for entire Sokoto people –Aliyu
Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, Sokoto State Governor-elect, his deputy, Alhaji Idris Gobir and 30 members-elect of the House of Assembly also received their certificates of return from INEC.
In his remarks, the governor-elect thanked INEC for ensuring a peaceful free, fair and credible election that led to his victory.
“This victory is not to Ahmad Aliyu but the entire people of Sokoto state. I thank the electorate for their confidence in electing me to lead the state.
“I also wish to use the medium to appreciate my political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for giving me the opportunity to contest. However, to those that battled for this position in other political parties, I appeal to all of you to come and join hands with us toward our desire of the renewed Sokoto State of our dream.”
•God has given Abia new song -Otti
Governor-elect of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, said God has given Abia a new song in his person, and promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the voters.
“Your expectations have put a huge responsibility on us. I won’t fail Abians who have waited for opportunity like this for a new dawn. You will not be disappointed. I won’t betray the confidence you have in me,” he assured.
While commending his fellow contestants who had called to congratulate and promised to support him to move the state forward, Otti urged other contestants to put the election behind them and rally round him for the good of the state instead of engaging in litigation against “a clearly won election.”
He thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for also congratulating him, and for advising other contestants against unnecessary litigation.
The Governor-elect, however, called on Ikpeazu not to create unnecessary tension in the state by awarding fresh contracts as doing so may not be in good taste.
Assuring he would not be vindictive against anybody, he nevertheless asked anyone with looted funds belonging to Abia to immediately and voluntarily return same as he would not have time to be chasing anybody around.
“I call on those who have looted Abia funds to return them immediately. We can’t allow our resources to be converted to a private estate while Abians are wallowing in abject poverty”, Otti warned.
He commended the Returning Officer, and Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Professor Nnenna Otti, for being upright and refusing to be compromised.
He denied any affinity or blood link with her contrary to allegations by the ruling party, explaining that the Returning Officer hails from Ebonyi State, and was not related to him.
•Niger gov-elect unveils 5-point plan of action
Governor-elect of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, has promised to make security and welfare his major priority.
In the five-point plan of action he rolled out shortly after receiving his certificate of return alongside his deputy, Yakubu Garba and members of House of Assembly in Minna, he promised to deliver first rate social amenities, revamp infrastructure, expand the state’s revenue base through enhancing the economic frontiers, and uphold accountability towards repositioning the State.
According to him, plan of action represents his pledge to construct a prosperous and functional system that will meet the needs of every person in the state, assuring that he will not betray the trust of the people of the state to chart the path of the state to greater heights.
“Let it be known, dear Nigerlites, that we recognise the enormity of the tasks ahead. From security compromises to youth restiveness, we are acutely aware of the crisis and setbacks that undermine our progress.
“I promise you this; we will establish the root causes and drivers of these issues and take decisive actions to nip them in the bud. We will not rest until Niger state becomes a development model. Our hands are on the plough, our eyes are trained on new goals and our hearts committed to do well for Nigerlites.”
He also pledged to run an all inclusive and open government where no one would be given preferential treatment over another, adding that he would create a fair and equitable society that will benefit every citizen.
He called on his closest opponent, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi to work with him saying that they would continue to remain allies despite the clashing partisan allegiances.
•23 Imo Assembly members-elect get CoR
Twenty three lawmakers-elect received their certificate of return from INEC’s Administrative Secretary, Mr. Jude Okwuonu.
He urged the members to understand that they were elected to serve their constituents.
Election in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) was declared inconclusive, while that of Isu LGA was marred by violence. The certificates for Ideato North and Ideato South state constituencies were not issued during the ceremony.
The recipients of the certificates contested and won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
