‘No victor, no vanquished’ – Gombe Gov-elect declares after collecting CoR
Chima Azubuike
Gombe State State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, his deputy Dr Manassah Jatau and 24 members-elect on Thursday received Certificate of Return.
Speaking shortly after receiving his Certificate at an event organised by Independent National Electoral Commission Yahaya called on the opposition to team up with his administration towards uplifting the state.
According to him, his triumph at the poll wasn’t his alone, as there was no winner and loser adding that every candidate was geared towards contributing positive to the development of Gombe.
Our correspondent reports that Yahaya polled 342, 821 to defeat Muhammad Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party, who recorded 233,131 and Khamisu Mailantarki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party who came distant third with 19,861.
Yahaya said, “I like to urge all of us those that contested in the election for us there is no victor, there is no vanquished. We are just Gombe people and we shall jointly work, carry the hand of the losers so to say, if there is any to move forward and take Gombe State to the next level.”
While commending residents of Gombe and Independent National Electoral Commission for the smooth conduct of elections, urged for perfection of the electoral process.
“Today’s event culminates the activities that produced the function that we are holding this afternoon which is the presentation of the certificate of return and I will like to cease to opportunity to thank the entire people of Gombe State for supporting INEC and the security agencies to provide a ground that was free and fair for the contest that produced this result.
“Indeed we have seen an election since 1999, with the return of 4th republic that has been conducted peacefully and harmoniously that has got acclaimed from far and wide to be fair, free and credible. So, we thank God for that and we appreciate INEC for being innovative enough and I believe going forward INEC will continuously innovate devices by which the election will move to near perfection as a human endeavour. Let me as well assure the people the entire people of Gombe State and indeed Nigeria that this certificate we have received today, is a license for us to go all out to do more so that we deliver on the mandate, we deliver on the needs of the people and provide the dividends of democracy that is needed in this country,” Yahaya added.
Earlier speaking, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Gombe State Umar Ibrahim, described election as multi-stakeholder venture.
While commending ad-hoc staff, management for smooth conduct of the election, Ibrahim lauded them for their sacrifices which ensured the successful completion of the 2023 election.
