CITIZENS COMPASS– THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, presented the Certificates of Return to Bola Tinubu, and his vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima. being the winner of the 2023 presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
The ceremony took place at about 3.30pm with singing of the National Anthem followed by a short address by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who thereafter did the presentation at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, venue of the collation of the presidential election results.
Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar who scored 6,984,520 votes and Peter Obi of Labour Party who scored 6,101,533 votes to come third, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s Rabiu Kwankwaso who emerged fourth out of the 18 contenders by scoring 1,496,687 votes.
In his accepting speech, the President-Elect, said he will fulfil all his campaign promises in order to make Nigeria better.
“To those who did not support me, I ask that you not allow the disappointment of this moment to keep you from realising the historic national progress we can make by joining hands and hearts in common endeavour to pull this nation through.”
“In a phrase, I am asking you to work with me. I may be the president-elect but I need you. More importantly, Nigeria needs you.
“My heart and my door are open to you. I ask you to come in so that we may begin the task of rebuilding our national home together, day by day, brick by brick.”
He further added that, “Where there is poverty, let us create prosperity and jobs. Where there is hunger, let us feed the people, chasing hunger from their midst. Where there is now scarcity, let us rediscover abundance. Where there is brutality, may we replace it with brotherhood. Where violence stalks the land, may we establish peace. Where others have erected temples to hatred and bias, may we construct permanent monuments to compassion and abiding affection.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiama, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, former Governor of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi, and a host of other dignitaries graced the occasion amid a mammoth crowd of supporters and party faithful.
