Gombe State governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and his Borno State counterpart Babagana Umara Zulum have said that their reelection was victory for all the people of their states and that they will run inclusive government.
After he received his certificate of return from INEC yesterday, Inuwa said, “This certificate I received today is a licence for us to go all out to do more so that we deliver on the mandate given to us by the electorate.”
INEC had presented certificates of return to Inuwa, and his deputy, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, and all the House of Assembly members-elect.
While the INEC commissioner- in-charge of Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states, Dr Baba Bila, presented the certificate of return to Governor Inuwa and his deputy, the Gombe State resident electoral commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, handed same to members- elect of the Gombe State House of Assembly.
In an address at the occasion, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his reelection is a victory for all citizens of Gombe State, assuring the people that “this certificate I received today is a licence for us to go all out to do more so that we deliver on the mandate given to us by the electorate “.
To those who contested and lost in the elections, the governor said, “As in every electoral contest, there is bound to be winners and losers. But for me, there is no victor and no vanquished. If the ultimate objective of all political parties and contestants is about the peace, progress and development of Gombe State, it behooves on all of them to support us in moving our dear State forward”.
He expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their support and peaceful conduct throughout the process.
The ceremony, held at the International Hotel, was graced by top government functionaries, APC chieftains, traditional rulers, religious leaders among others.
In Borno State, Governor Zulum, his deputy, Hon Umar Usman Kadafur and 28 state Assembly members-elect including the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) received their certificates.
At a colourful ceremony amid tight security and mammoth crowd of APC supporters which took place at the Multi-purpose Hall, Sir Kashim College of Education in Maiduguri, INEC national commissioner in-charge of Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, Major General Modibbo Alkali (rtd), said the mission of the electoral umpire is very clear, which is to serve independently, effectively towards conducting free, credible, transparent and fair elections in the country.
The INEC’s national commissioner said, as stakeholders, they will always stand by the 2022 Electoral Act to ensure sustainable democracy in the interest of Nigerians.
While congratulating Governor Zulum and his deputy, Kadafur and all the other 28 House of Assembly Members -elect, Alkali enjoined them to be fair to all manners of people who gave them the mandates to serve, as according to him, INEC will continue to improve upon the use of technology to ensure transparency, free, credible and acceptable elections in the country.
Governor Zulum thanked INEC for conducting free and fair elections in the state which made APC sweep all the 28 House of Assembly seats.
He dedicated the victory to the Almighty God and the good people of the state who gave him another mandate to serve them, which he pledged not to disappoint them in the course of discharging his statutory responsibilities.
Zulum however extended an olive branch to all his opponents by urging them to join hands with his administration in order to better the lives of Borno citizens.
While acknowledging the unflinching support received from President Muhammadu Buhari, the national and state leaders of the APC, particularly Borno APC chairman, Hon Ali Bukar Dalori, governor Zulum said, he will continue to remain indebted, even as he solicited for more prayers from all and sundry to ensure inclusive governance.
The elated Zulum further pledged that, in his second term, he would will focus more on service delivery in the area of health, education, security, jobs creation, poverty alleviation, in addition to reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement, as well as repatriation of all Borno Refugees from Niger, Cameroon and Chad Republic back home.
INEC also presented the certificates of return to the Sokoto State governor-elect and his deputy at the collation centre of the commission in the state.
The ceremony was attended by top party faithful of both APC and the PDP as well as the immediate family members of the recipients.
INEC national commissioner in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Professor Muhammed Sani Kalla, while presenting the certificate of returns to the recipients called on them to provide the electorate with the dividends of democracy.
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