President Bola Tinubu has congratulated winners of last Saturday’s gubernatorial elections, including Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, as well as Governor-elect Usman Ododo of Kogi State.
A statement issued on Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), said the president commended the electorate in the three states for their participation in the electoral process, affirming the resilience of democratic institutions and the power of the people in shaping the nation’s political landscape.
President Tinubu said that the outcome of the elections reflected the wishes of the people, emphasizing that democracy thrives when voters reward competence, transparency, and good governance.
While expressing gratitude to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “for working assiduously to create a level playing field for all contestants and the nation’s security agencies for maintaining law and order during the highly-anticipated elections,” the President affirmed the need for a sustained commitment to all efforts aimed at further sanitizing the electoral system and enhancing the credibility of future elections.
The statement added that with the election processes concluded, President Tinubu anticipates a renewed sense of hope for the people of Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States, as well as consolidation on progress that will position the states as hubs of peace, commerce, entrepreneurship, and prosperity in Nigeria.
According to the statement, in the spirit of fostering a harmonious and inclusive political landscape in the aforementioned states, President Tinubu urged the victors to prioritize the common good of the people over partisan interests.
“May your tenure in office be defined by close collaboration with all of your counterparts across party lines in the attainment of pan-Nigerian developmental achievements that benefit everyone, and may you lead at all times with compassion and a deepened commitment to our nation’s unity,” it quoted the president Tinubu as saying.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has also congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) on winning the governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states and thanked the people of the two states for reaffirming their confidence in the nation’s biggest political party.
A statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the former President thanked the party leaders and the workers who laboured tirelessly to ensure the reemergence of Senator Hope Uzodinma for his second term in Imo and Alhaji Usman Ododo as the new governor of Kogi state.
“My best wishes to them for their next tenure.”
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) too has also congratulated the Bayelsa state governor.
A statement issued by the Director General of the forum, Cyril Maduabum, said its chairman and governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed expressed the belief that good stewardship by the Diri in his first term in office won the people’s votes.
“It was a well fought and well-deserved victory. A victory and validation for hard work, good governance engendered by enthroning a culture of peaceful coexistence, unity, progressive and people oriented, and people driven agenda,” the statement said.
The PDP–GF commended Diri for his fair-mindedness and even spread of infrastructural projects to all sections and segments of the State in his first term.
The Forum also noted the governor’s peace initiatives across the state and party immediately on assumption of office in 2019, “which created the enabling environment for his developmental projects and programmes to thrive.”
The statement added: “We are confident that Senator Diri would continue to deliver life-changing dividends of democracy to the indigenes and residents of the State, who affirmed their choice by voting for him again at the polls.
“We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for ensuring the integrity of the election through the proper usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in instilling public confidence in the electoral process.”
The Forum urged the Bayelsa Governor to continue his famed magnanimity in victory.
Meanwhile, following the declaration of Diri oas the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, the national leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has called on all the other governorship candidates in the election, especially former Governor Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to follow the example set by former President Goodluck Jonathan, in reaching out to Governor Diri in the overall interest of Bayelsa State.
PANDEF, accordingly, congratulated the re-elected governor and urged him to be magnanimous in victory while calling on all political leaders in Bayelsa State to work together by placing the peace and stability of the state above all other considerations.
PANDEF further commended the people of the for the relatively peaceful governorship election, which was devoid of violence in most places.
A statement issued by Emmanuel Ibok Essien, National Chairman of PANDEF stated: “We are using this opportunity to also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the security agencies for the orderly manner in which they conducted the off-season election in Bayelsa State.
“It should be noted that Bayelsa State is critical to the stability of the Niger Delta region, and the national economy in general. Hence, the peaceful electoral outcome is quite pleasing to all.
“We must also commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his stately stance of non-interference in the electoral process.”
PANDEF called on the security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported unfortunate incident of death in Brass local government area of the state as well as other infractions committed during the election.
. TheWitness
