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I’ll Ensure Orderly Handover Of Power To Tinubu – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Daura, Katsina State, felicitated with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, for emerging the winner of the February 25 Presidential Elections.

Buhari said he will now work closely with Mr Tinubu’s team to ensure an “orderly handover of power.”

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In a statement signed early Wednesday by the President’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari who admitted faults in the electoral process, especially in the electronic transmission of results, said it does not dent the freeness and fairness of the elections.

Therefore, he urged aggrieved parties to take their complaints “to the courts, not to the streets.”

The statement is titled ‘President Buhari congratulates the winner of the presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’.

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READ ALSO: Presidential Election Results: Charly Boy Sends Message To Nigerian Youths

The PUNCH reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission, early Wednesday, declared Mr Tinubu as the winner of the presidential elections; 72 hours after the collation of results began.

Tinubu who polled 8,794,726 winning in 12 states, lead the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, who scored 6,984,520 votes, Labour Party’s Peter Obi who polled 6,101,533, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, who garnered 1,496,687 votes.

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Reacting to the results Buhari said “I congratulate His Excellency Bola Tinubu on his victory.

“Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job. I shall now work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.

“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.”

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The President said Saturday’s election results reveal a ripening democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, “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 of you may have noticed my home state amongst them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either.

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READ ALSO: You’re Best For The Job, Buhari Congratulates Tinubu

“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.”

However, Buhari admitted faults in the electoral process.

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Citing INEC’s failure to transmit the results electronically, Buhari argued that the gaffe does not mar the freeness and fairness of the elections.

The PUNCH reports that long before the national collation exercise was concluded in Abuja, the PDP and LP, on Monday, rejected the results, alleging irregularities.

Both parties called for the cancellation of the election and also asked the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to step down over claims that the election was rigged in the APC’s favour.

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However, Buhari disagrees.

He said, “That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with the 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 represents a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.

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“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.”

He said taking to the streets is not in the interest of the people, but will inflame Nigerian and put them in harm’s way “all for personal, selfish gains.”

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Buhari urged the candidates to remember their agreement at the peace accord signed days to the 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.

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READ ALSO: 2023 Elections: Youths Warn Against Attempt To Arrest Dunamis Pastor, Paul Enenche

Meanwhile, in Daura, the President played host to guests who thronged his private residence to celebrate the APC’s victory.

A statement signed by the President’s spokesman, Shehu, revealed that Katsina state Governor, Aminu Masari and the Emir of Daura, Dr Umar Umar, led members of their cabinets on separate visits.

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He thanked the electorate for their massive support for the APC in the Presidential and the National Assembly elections, asking them to further mobilise for the upcoming governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.
PUNCH

 

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US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again regarding the vice president, Kashim Shettima, and his 2027 second-term ambition, while also stating that America is “desperate to remove” the president.

Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Tinubu not to drop Shettima as his running mate, noting that even if the VP offends the president, he should settle it for his own good.

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He explained that an attempt to bring another person on board would be a “huge minus” and would “destroy his chances and bring unnecessary enemies to him.”

“Dropping Shettima will cause trouble for you; those who want him out are your enemies who don’t want you to succeed. Anything that Shettima might have done, forget it, and let’s move the country forward,” the cleric advised.

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He continued; “If you remove Shettima, it’s a minus for you; don’t remove him if you still want to maintain your chances. There are things you need to settle between yourself and Shettima, settle with him and let him remain; if not, it will be a serious minus to your government.”

The cleric stated that Shettima is harmless to Tinubu, but that the president will still face challenges in the north, predicting that “the Emirs will gang up against you.”

He urged the president to “do extra work” because the “election won’t come by easily.”

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Primate Ayodele further revealed that America won’t support President Tinubu’s second-term ambition and will “do everything to see him removed from power.”

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He urged the president to avoid “self-inflicted problems by solving the issues of hunger and security.”

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“Also, make sure you sort out the issue of international communities, like I said, America isn’t your friend. America is desperate to remove you; they will do everything to see you out of power.”

He stated that there are people who can defeat Tinubu, and although none have openly shown interest yet, with the current situation on the ground, they will defeat the president if they contest.

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I am not in support of anyone. If anyone comes out to contest and can defeat you, I will tell you, but I have not seen it yet. However, you need to work very hard because if the person comes out with the situation on the ground, you will have issues.”

He concluded by reiterating that the true problems are not personnel, but the nation’s challenges.

Shettima isn’t your problem, but hunger in the country and other factors. If you don’t fix them, removing anybody from your government or adding anyone will not do you any good. You should also work on security, you can win terrorists, they are within Nigeria.”

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I’m Not Ready To Go Into The Gutters With Anyone – Makinde

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

He made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party, held in Lagos.

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He said, “Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

READ ALSO:Makinde, Wife Installed As Aare Omoluabi, Yeye Aare Omoluabi Of Akure Kingdom

I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching.”

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The governor added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.

“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.

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READ ALSO:2027: Makinde For President Posters Flood Kano

We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat.

“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

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Dignitaries at the meeting include the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s National Zoning Committee and Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, Peter Mba of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Bode George; and Monsurat Sunmonu.

Others were 12 of the 17 PDP National Assembly members and key stakeholders of the party from across the southern states.

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2027 Presidency: Idahosa Reiterates Okpebholo’s Promises Of Delivering Edo To Tinubu

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Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa on Tuesday reiterated the promise of Governor Monday Okpebholo of delivering the state to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The deputy said that the just concluded by-elections in the state was an affirmation of that promised made by his principal.

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Idahosa stated this in a press statement sogned by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, and made available to newsmen.

He said Okpebholo did not just make the promise of delivery the state to the APC, but that Edo will secure 2.5m votes for the President in 2027.

READ ALSO: Ovia By-election, Litmus Test To APC Success In 2027, Says Edo Deputy Gov

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He commended the leadership of the party across Ovia federal constituency for their providing the leadership that made a APC victorious on Saturday.

He, however, noted that there was more room for improvement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, “after the victory, we called the leadership of the Ovia federal constituency to review and evaluate our performance at the poll, to observe areas where we need to work on next time.

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“The bye-election was a litmus test for the 2027 presidential election. We are fully ready.”

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Idahosa also used the opportunity to sensitize the people on the ongoing continuous voters registration and revalidation process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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He also reeled out measures in place by the party to get new registered members for the exercise when commenced on Monday.

We are going to constitute subcommittees to mobilize people who have not yet registered to enable us actualize on the promised votes to the president,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives member elect, Omosede Igbinedion, promised to deliver on her campaign promises to the people.

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READ ALSO:Edo Election: Walter Obaseki Descendants Congratulate Okpebholo, Idahosa On Victory

Ovia Federal Constituency should expect nothing but the best, in terms of representation and also in terms of developmental strides.

“We will come through, in anything we can do, from the federal level to complement the governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the tremendous work he is doing at the state.

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“Ovia is looking very bright. The deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, has laid a good foundation we will build upon that foundation,” she said.

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