The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, congratulated the governors-elect of Adamawa and Kebbi states, Ahmadu Fintiri and Nasiru Idris, respectively, for their victories in Saturday’s supplementary governorship elections.
This was as he called on security agents to launch a full-scale investigation into the drama that transpired during the collation of votes in Adamawa State.
Fintiri’s victory came two days after the collation of results was abruptly suspended following the controversial declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Aishatu Dahiru, better known as Binani, as the winner of the poll by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari.
Ari has since been suspended after the commission nullified his declaration.
Reacting to the drama, which sparked an outrage among Nigerians, Tinubu urged police authorities to ensure they leave no stone unturned as they investigate the case.
He said, “I note the matter of Adamawa supplementary governorship election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election, given the attendant controversy. In every democratic contest there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.
“I congratulate the winners of the supplementary governorship elections held in Kebbi and Adamawa states on Saturday, April 15, 2023. I also rejoice with those elected into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly during the last round of elections in states where such took place. These victorious men and women have earned the trust of their people and I call on them to rededicate themselves to the service of their respective constituents.”
Tinubu said with the elections over, it was time for the elected “to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives also congratulated Fintiri, on his “widely celebrated victory.”
Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement on Wednesday, saluted the people of Adamawa for their resilience in standing with Fintiri “and resisting desperate anti-democratic forces that sought to manipulate the electoral process, suppress the will of the people and impose an illegitimate government on the state.”
“From the results of the main election and the supplementary poll, it was clear that Governor Fintiri remains the clear choice of the people. His ultimate victory further proves that no matter how much falsehood, tyranny and manipulations appear to thrive, the truth will always prevail at the end of the day.
“The Minority Caucus again congratulates Governor Fintiri and urges him to remain focused and continue in his excellent delivery of service, particularly his massive legacy infrastructural development projects and empowerment of citizens for which the people of Adamawa State overwhelmingly re-elected him as governor,” the statement said.
