AFTER a relatively peaceful governorship election on Saturday in Sokoto State, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, retained his seat as governor, winning the election by a decisive majority.
Wamako won convincingly in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which sent representatives to monitor the election, in a press statement, declared the conduct as free and fair.
However, the candidate of the ANPP, Alhaji Yusha’u Muhammad Ahmad Kebbe, said he rejected whatever would be the result of the election.
The ANPP candidate made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the residence of former governor of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa on Sunday, where he appealed to Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the election and organize another one that would be seen as free and fair.
Vote counting lasted about 10 hours. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor A. A. Zuru, who is the Vice-Chancellor of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, declared Wamakko as winner of the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The result put the PDP on the lead with a total of 518,247 votes, while the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) scored a total vote of 131,048 and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) a total of 7,323 votes.
A total of 2,443,857 voters registered for the election.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan issued a press release on Sunday through his Special Assistant on Communication, Dr. Reuben Abati, to congratulate the Governor-Elect Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko on his success.
According to the statement, “President Jonathan welcomes Alhaji Wamakko’s re-election for a second term by a clear majority of registered voters in Sokoto State as a manifestation of their continued faith in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their satisfaction with the performance of the Wamakko Administration during his first term in office.
“The President urges Alhaji Wamakko to seize the opportunity of the fresh four-year mandate which he has been given by the people of Sokoto State to continue the very laudable development programmes, especially the popular rural development schemes that were initiated during his first term which have had a very positive impact on the populace.
“President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will grant Alhaji Wamakko another successful term of office in the service of the people of Sokoto State and the nation.
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