The Independent National Electoral Commission has presented certificates of return to the Kogi Governor-Elect, Usman Ododo and his Deputy, Joel Salifu.
Ododo was declared the winner by the electoral commission in last week’s Saturday’s election.
Ododo and Salifu of the All Progressives Congress had won the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State with 446,237 votes, beating their closest rivals, Murtala Ajaka and Sam Ranti-Abenemi of the Social Democratic Party, who garnered 259,052 votes.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the certificates of return were presented to the duo at the INEC headquarters in Lokoja, the state capital, on Friday amid jubilation by party members and supporters.
Sani Adam (SAN), the National Electoral Commissioner for Kwara, Niger and Kogi States, who presented the certificates to them, congratulated them for emerging victorious in the governorship election.
Presenting the certificate, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Gabriel Longpet, said the presentation was part of the Commission’s mandate.
Longpet said that Ododo and Salifu were being presented the certificate for the simple reason that they met the constitutional requirements.
Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate, Ododo promised the people of Kogi State that he would make good his campaign promises to build on the sterling achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Governor-elect thanked the people of the state for the overwhelming support given to him during the election.
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Ododo described the overwhelming support he enjoyed as a sheer consolidation of the strength and unity of the state.
He said: “My victory at last Saturday’s election is a victory for all. We will run an all inclusive administration, where everyone, irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation, will be carried along.
“My administration will be committed to sustaining the youth and women empowerment programmes of the present administration.
“My resolve to provide employment for our teeming youths and ensure that education occupies the front burner of our administration remains unchanged.”
The Governor-elect promised to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Governor Bello, who witnessed the presentation of the Certificates of Return, urged the people to join hands with Ododo in building a greater Kogi State.
”The election has come and gone and a winner has emerged. I call on the people of the State to work towards the unity and togetherness our administration has achieved,” he said.
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