Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defeated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi to become the sixth Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu declared Tinubu winner of the 2023 Presidential Election at exactly 4:10 a.m in Abuja on Wednesday.
Tinubu had 8,794,726 votes , Atiku Abubakar got 6,984,520 votes, Peter Obi had 6,101,533 votes while the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso got 1,496,687 votes.
Yakubu noted that the total number of registered voters for the election was 93,469,008; while 25,286,616 voters were accredited, valid votes were 24,025,940 and the rejected votes were 939,278.
The chairman also noted that the total number of the vote cast was 24,965,218.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is set to become Nigeria’s 6th executive president.
As a member of the SDP , he had sought to become president of the Senate in 1992 but it was eventually resolved that the position should be zoned to the North Central and Iyorchia Ayu, the current National Chairman of the PDP had consequently become the Senate President.
Tinubu had later served as governor of Lagos state between May 29 ,1999 and May 29, 2007.
Ahead of the 2003 General Election , while colleague South West AD governors : Chief Adebayo Adefarati, Otunba Niyi Adebayo , Chief Lam Adesina , Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba had sealed an agreement with the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that he wins in Yoruba land while he would in turn support their re-election at their respective states, Tinubu had objected to this and he had fought his battle alone.
He eventually became the only governor in the South West that won re-election in 2003.
Though Tinubu may have nursed presidential ambition in the past without making it official, this is the first time he would be joining the presidential race , his efforts have yielded positive results and he would become the nation’s 6th executive president and Commander -In-Chief on May 29,2023.
Interestingly, himself and his main rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have come a long way. They were both political acolytes of late General Musa Yaradua and they were both leaders of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).
President Muhammadu Buhari had since sent a message of congratulations to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitting that ‘the people have spoken’.
He has also urged those having complaints about the presidential election to ‘ take it to the courts and not the streets’.
‘The election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise. In a region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, this election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver for the people it serves.
Within Nigeria, the results have revealed democracy’s ripening in our country. Never has the electoral map shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in all regions across the nation changed colour. Some amongst you may have noticed my home state amongst them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either. That happens during a competitive election. Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted. Each must be earned.
Competition is good for our democracy. There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today.
That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency and credibility to the voting procedure. However, none of the issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.
I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this view. That too is fine. If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence. If they cannot, then we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will – no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge, please take it to the courts, not to the streets.
However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way and all for personal, selfish gains.
After a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly. I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC. Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken’ he said.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state has also congratulated the President-elect and the APC family nationwide on Tinubu’s election victory.
In a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye on Wednesday morning , the governor called Asiwaju Tinubu’s victory “truly deserving and a reassuring message that Nigerians ultimately value great antecedents, clear vision, national unity and security, and development over other partisan considerations’.
‘This is a victory for national unity, as had been preached by the Progressive Governors and other statesmen across the country. It is a vote of confidence in the capacity of the President-elect to build on the great strides of President Muhammadu Buhari especially in the area of infrastructure, address some key national questions in line with global best practices, and build a stronger and a more competitive economy.
I have no doubt that Asiwaju, a great team player, will hit the ground running, helped by his experience, rich network, great understanding of all the burning issues and assisted by an array of patriots, including the resourceful Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, who would prioritize national security and development over every other thing.
I congratulate our party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his leadership and courage, which have seen our party to this electoral victory. I join our party leadership to thank the people of Nigeria, especially my good people of Kwara State, for the confidence they have again reposed in the APC to continue to lead Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth. We do not take this for granted.
This, indeed, is the time for everyone, irrespective of partisan affiliations, to join hands with the president-elect to build a stronger nation’ the statement said -Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
