President Muhammadu Buhari, during the week, hosted the winner of the 2023 presidential election, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, warned that votes and those who gave them should not be counted. .
Chairman of the Independent General Election Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday morning announced Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes.
Tinubu defeated his nearest rivals Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of the Labor Party, who polled 6,101,533 votes out of a total of 24,965,218 votes.
Also, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso- of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was a distant fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
Reacting to the results announced by INEC Chairman, Buhari in his state house, Daura, Katsina State, said:
“I congratulate His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Elected by the people, he is the best man for the job. I will now work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.”
“Elections are Africa’s biggest democratic exercise. In a region that has experienced backsliding and military coups in recent years, these elections demonstrate the relevance and continued ability of democracy to deliver to the people it serves.
“In Nigeria, these results show democracy in our country. Never before has the electoral map changed so drastically in one cycle.
“In the presidential election, states in all regions across the country changed colors.
“Some of you may already know the state of my home among them. The winning candidate also does not bring his own country of origin. This is what happens during competitive elections.
“Votes and givers cannot be accepted. Each must earn. Competition is good for our democracy.
“There is no doubt that the decision of the people has been made in the results that we see today.”
NAN reports that Tinubu was accompanied by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima and the National Chairman of the APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
Others on the trip to Daura were: Governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Niger, Abubakar Sani-Bello; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun, Jigawa, Badaru Abubakar and Plateau, Simon Lalong.
The president-elect used the opportunity to thank Buhari for his support during the election process.
Buhari also received political and community leaders at his country house, Daura, in a congratulatory visit on the emergence of Tinubu as the next President of the country.
While receiving Governor Aminu Masari and the Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Faruk-Umar, who led cabinet members on separate visits, Buhari expressed what he often says about the President-elect:
“Bola Tinubu truly believes in Nigeria and is truly committed to the progress and sustainable future of Nigeria.”
He thanked the voters for their massive support for the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, urging them to go further for the upcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The President was also in Maiduguri, Borno, on Thursday where he inaugurated projects including the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project and inspected the ruins of Maiduguri’s Monday market, which was recently destroyed by fire.
At the inauguration of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, Buhari described the achievement as further proof of uninterrupted access to power that aims to improve the economy and the lives of Nigerians.
The gas plant was built by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to supply 50 megawatts of electricity to Maiduguri and its environs.
The President was accompanied by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council and several prominent citizens.
There, Buhari also in Daura, Katsina State, actually inaugurated 700 Ashok Leyland Troop Carrying Vehicles assembled in Lagos.
At the event, the president praised the patriotic role played by the Armed Forces in maintaining law and order in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to him, the sacrifices of the Armed Forces remain appreciated by Nigerians.
Buhari promised more support for the welfare of the military, while assuring that “their work will not be in vain”.
Buhari, who left the Umar Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, on Saturday for Doha, Qatar, for the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LCD), is expected back in the country on Wednesday.