Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated President Macky Sall of Senegal on his re-election for a second term.

The President commends the people of Senegal on the successful and peaceful conduct of the presidential election, noting that the scenario of successful elections in West African countries is a sign of hope that democracy has come to stay in the sub-region.

While wishing the Senegalese people peace, stability and progress, President Buhari looks forward to working with President Sall to advance existing bilateral cooperation in various fields for the benefits of their citizens.

At the sub-regional level, the Nigerian leader expresses readiness to partner with his Senegalese counterpart to achieve greater progress in the economic, governance, peace, security and humanitarian fields.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 28, 2019

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, has congratulated Nigerians for their patience and large turnout to cast their votes in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

In a statement, the U.S. envoy also applauded the hundreds of thousands who worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the polls.

Part of the statement read, “As noted by many observer groups in their preliminary reports, this election was predominantly peaceful, and it was proof of the Nigerian people’s resolute commitment to choose their leaders. The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few.”

While commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives during the elections, Mr. Symington asked all the candidates in the elections to honor the peace accord they signed in the run-up to the exercise.

“All should convince those who support them to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with INEC.

“No one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the results are final. Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results,” he said.

Channels Television 
February 25, 2019

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election for a new presidential term.

In a telephone conversation with President Buhari on Thursday, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the Nigerian President success and good health in his second term in office.

The Saudi King extended good wishes of steady progress and prosperity to the government and people of Nigeria.

President Buhari expressed appreciation to the King, affirming his readiness to enhance aspects of cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Also, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of congratulations to President Buhari on his re-election, wishing the Nigerian President success and the Nigerian people further development and progress.

Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, also sent a congratulatory message, saying:

”I am honoured to extend my congratulations to you personally, Mr President, and the people of Nigeria on the successful conduct of free, transparent and credible Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23, 2019, that will shape the destiny of this nation for the upcoming four years and beyond.”

While describing the elections as yet another substantial step towards further strengthening of Nigerian democracy, the Russian Ambassador wrote: ” It is my conviction that your decisive victory will pave the way for yet stronger and more prosperous Nigeria that you will be able to deliver on the people’s mandate. ”

The Russian Ambassador expressed the hope that the Nigerian President’s second term in office will be associated with further enhancements of bilateral cooperation and closer contacts between the two countries.

UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, said: ”I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President. The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people, and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world. ”

French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in its congratulatory message said:

”France congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election on February 23. It will continue to stand by Nigeria and to provide its full support for the implementation of the country’s priorities, especially economic diversification, job creation, counter terrorism and the fight against corruption.”

President Buhari has also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 28, 2019

More African leaders have sent congratulatory messages to President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election. 

King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco described President Buhari’s victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians have in their President and promised to work with him to advance the interests of both countries.

‘‘Your re-election is a testimony to the level of confidence that you enjoy among the people of Nigeria, attributable to your wisdom, experience in politics, sense of engagement and devotion to the service and the protection of the interests of the country especially as they relate to the prosperity, wellbeing and security of your people,” King Mohammed VI said in his congratulatory message.

The monarch expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial and fraternal African relationship linking the two leaders, their people, and nations.

He reiterated his determination to work in concert with President Buhari to reinforce the mutually beneficial relationship between Morocco and Nigeria and to give it a new impetus to serve as a model on the African continent.

President Alpha Conde of Guinea also extended his congratulations, describing the re-election of President Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region.

Professor Conde expressed confidence that the cordial relations between Nigeria and Guinea will continue to get better.

Earlier, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who was the first leader to call President Buhari minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the 2019 presidential elections, said he looked forward to working with the Nigerian leader to further strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations.

President Buhari has also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Nana Koffi-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 27, 2019

We have just read with great consternation the Press Statement of the National Chairman of PDP rejecting the results as being announced presently by INEC in Abuja.

The simple questions we ask the PDP and Atiku’s Campaign team are as follows:

(1) How come the PDP is rejecting results that have not been fully and completely announced? How can one reject the result of an uncompleted game? The process of an election does not end until the final collation and announcement of results.

(2) Is the PDP rejecting the totality of the results nationwide? If yes, does it mean they also reject the results that would be announced later by INEC which may indicate that they have won in certain areas? Are they also rejecting the results already announced that indicate they won in some areas? For instance, are they rejecting the results of the FCT already announced in which they won?

(3) If indeed they are only rejecting areas where they lost, are they implying that it is only in areas where they won that can be adjudged free and fair and all areas where they lost must be adjudged rigged? Is that the mentality of true democrats?

In the PDP statement, it is curious that they rejected the results as being announced, yet they claim they are coasting to victory. What kind of logic is that? What kind of confusion is now reigning in the minds of the top hierarchy of the PDP that they can spew such illogicality?

It is now obvious that the top hierarchy of the PDP is hysterical and nervous. We urge them to calm down.

Obviously, this is the first time they are sensing a massive loss of an election as opposition party. It is a new experience for them. They are confused and disoriented. For many years, they were used to manipulating the instruments of State to just write results and announce themselves as winners. As such they have a sense of entitlement to these instruments of State that they could not fully manipulate this time because President Muhammadu Buhari insisted on a level plain field for all.

We advise the PDP that as opposition party for many years, we have been down this road before. This is not the time to sacrifice the country for personal ambition. If they feel they have lost (as their statement clearly indicates), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must pick up his phone to make that famous call to President Muhammadu Buhari. The world is watching him and so are Nigerians.

Finally, we urge INEC, Nigerians and our international friends not to be swayed by these infantile antics of the PDP. The process of collation and announcement that is on-going should be done to its logical conclusion after which anyone who is aggrieved should take full advantage of the provisions of the law.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council
(Official Spokesperson)

President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has maintained the lead in last Saturday’s presidential polls in Kaduna State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far declared results of 13 local government areas.

The Commission is awaiting the results of other 10 Local government areas.

Prof. Bello Shehu, the collation officer, declared President Buhari of the APC as winner in eight local government areas.

Shehu said that the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won in five local government areas.

NAN reports that the APC has won in Ikara, Makarfi, Kudan, Kubau Giwa, Sabon Gari, Soba, Kauru local government areas.

Shehu said the PDP won in Kaura, Zangon Kataf, Kagarko, Jaba and Kajuru local government areas.

Results of the Presidential poll from Zaria, Birnin Gwari, Sanga, Igabi , Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chukun, Lere, Jema’a and Kachia are still being awaited.

Latest results released:
Kauru LG
APC 33, 578
PDP 27,041
Kagarko LGA
APC 16,663
PDP 21,605
Kajuru LGA
APC 7,888
PDP 31,445
Giwa LGA
APC 45,574
PDP 9,838
LGA results released earlier

Kaura LGA

APC 6,907

PDP 33,647
Ikara LGA
APC 44,021
PDP 14,464
Makarfi LGA
APC: 36,624
PDP:14,494
Kubau LGA
APC: 67,140
PDP: 13,296
KUDAN LGA
APC:30,577
PDP: 11,692
JABA
APC:6,400
PDP:22, 758
Zangon Kataf LGA
APC:10,411
PDP:62,622
Sabon Gari LGA
APC 58,467
PDP 22,644
SOBA LGA
APC 51, 548
PDP 10, 656

President Buhari with Nasarawa state governor Almakura: Buhari wins Nasarawa for the first time
President Muhammadu Buhari has won Nasarawa state for the first time in his political career since 2003, defeating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his main challenger, by 37,896 votes.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lafia, the capital, President Buhari polled 279,315 votes to defeat Atiku who polled 241,419 votes.

Buhari won in eight local governments while Atiku won in five local governments marking the first time the Peoples Democratic Party has lost Nasarawa state in a presidential election since the return to democracy in 1999.

The president got his highest number of votes in Lafia, the state capital, where he polled 55,254, while Atiku got his highest votes in Karu local government after polling 49,292.

President Muhammad Buhari has won the eight out of the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi in the presidential election results so far released by INEC Collation Officers.

The Collation Officer for the Kebbi Presidential Election, Prof. Haruna Bichi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina state, said APC scored 17,863 in Aliero Local Government against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which polled 5,458.

Similarly, in Kalgo local government, APC scored 19,057 as against PDP which got 3,233 while in Ngaski Local government, APC scored 20,641 as against PDP which scored 6,591.

In Sakaba local government, APC polled 14,026 as against PDP with had 3,800 votes.

Furthermore, in Shanga local government, APC got 19,262 while PDP which scored 6,961, and in Bagudo local government, APC scored 29,243 as against PDP with 8,160 votes.

In Arewa local government, APC polled 32,582 as against PDP which scored 8,390 votes.

The collation and announcement would continue today by 12 noon. (NAN)

The announcement of the presidential election results in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has commenced with President Muhammadu Buhari of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) taking an early lead in the results of three Area Councils so far declared.

Prof. Muhammed Liman, Collation Officer, Presidential, FCT who is also the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University made this known while declaring the results for the area councils.

Liman said the results were from Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils of the FCT.

“APC won in Abaji with 12,847 while PDP got 9,369; in Gwagwalada, PDP won with 25,175 votes while APC got 24,363 votes.

“In Kwali, PDP won with 16,455 votes while APC got 15,505 votes .’’

Liman said that overall, APC’s candidate, President Buhari won the three area councils with 52,719 while PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, came second with 50,999 votes.

He said that the Peoples Coalition Party(PCP) came third with 458 votes while the Grassroots Development Party Of Nigeria (GDPN) came fourth with 169 votes.

He said that the number of registered voters collated in the three Area Councils was 307, 233 while the  number of accredited voters collated was 117,214.

He said that the number of valid votes was 106,030 and the number of rejected votes 6,727.

Liman said that the total number of votes cast was 112,757.

NAN reports that the FCT collation and announcement of the presidential election was still ongoing as at the time of filling this report.

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President Buhari : wins Ekiti state
President Muhammadu Buhari has won Ekiti state, the first officially declared presidential election result by Independent National Electoral Commission.

In the result announced by the returning officer, Professor Idowu Olayinka, vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Buhari of the All Progressives Congress polled 219,231 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party got 154,032 votes.
PDP 154,032.

Total valid votes were 381,132, rejected votes 12,577, while total total votes were 393 709.

The APC has already won two of the senate seats for the state and several House of Representative seats.

NAN