In 26 states where winners of the March 18 elections have been announced, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started presenting certificates of return to the governors-elect.
Moreover, certificates must be given to the newly elected state legislators in each of the 36 member states’ pertinent state legislatures.
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner for INEC, had underlined in a statement from last Saturday that Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates that the Commission issue a certificate of return to every candidate who has been returned elected under the legislation within 14 days.
In 26 states where winners of the March 18 elections have been announced, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started presenting certificates of return to the governors-elect.
Moreover, certificates must be given to the newly elected state legislators in each of the 36 member states’ pertinent state legislatures.
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner for INEC, had underlined in a statement from last Saturday that Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates that the Commission issue a certificate of return to every candidate who has been returned elected under the legislation within 14 days.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 15 states and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in nine, while the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won in one each.
In all, the ruling APC won in 15 states, including seven re-elected governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Muni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno).
The party also secured wins for eight new candidates: Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi).
On the other hand, the PDP secured nine victories including two reelected governors: Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Seven first-term governors were also elected on the platform of the opposition party. They are Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminialayi Fubara (Rivers), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).
In a historic win, PDP’s Dauda Lawal unseated Zamfara State Governor and APC powerbroker in Zamfara, Bello Matawalle.
In a similar fashion, Abba Kabir of the NNPP unseated the APC in Kano State while LP’s Alex Otti won Abia which had been a PDP state in the last couple of years.