By Sadiq Umar – Following their victory at the poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificate of return to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Mr. Buhari who is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the last Saturday elections after polling over 15 million votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured over 12 million votes in Saturday’s general election.
INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, presented the certificate of return to the president-elect and the vice-president elect, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), in Abuja Wednesday.
Mr. Abubakar has since rejected the result, vowing to challenge the process in court.
In his remark while receiving the certificate, Mr. Buhari expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, saying, going by the comments of observers both local and foreign, the elections were free and fair.
The president said his government would continue to curb “primitive accumulation of wealth by those interested in public offices.”
“I wish to congratulate all the presidential candidates and their teams for a hard-fought campaign. We may have had different views during the campaign but the one thing most of us had in common is the love for our country,” Buhari said.
“I therefore want to assure we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart.
“Our government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open.”
In attendance were leaders of the APC, governors as well as other top government officials.
