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Tuesday 31 March 2015

Jonathan contributes to foundation of new Nigeria —Oyegun

Jonathan contributes to foundation of new Nigeria —Oyegun
 01.Apr.2015  DISQUS_COMMENTS   Kolawole Daniel - Abuja
NATIONAL leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started reacting to the congratulatory phone call placed by President Goodluck Jonathan to its standard-bearer in the just-concluded presidential election.
Speaking with newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the leaders of the party, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, declared that “the mood is that of thanksgiving to God and, of course, we are all happy with what is happening in the country.”
The national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said “President Jonathan has been wonderful. By what he has done today, he has contributed immensely to laying the foundation for a new Nigeria.”
He added that “the president that we are giving the country is the president of everybody. It will be a government without any discrimination, religion or tribe.”
Another national leader of the party, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, said “we all know that Nigerians want change and we are happy that the change has come.
“For the party, we feel happy that Nigerians have accepted us and are giving us the opportunity to govern and we are going to show Nigerians that many of the problems that have remained intractable will be solved.”

PDP vows to challenge Buhari’s ‎victory at tribunal

‎PDP vows to challenge Buhari’s ‎victory at tribunal


The  Peoples Democratic Party has said it will challenge the outcome of the March 28 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, through its Chairman and Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday morning, declared  Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.)‎ of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.
The PDP through its agent at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, when the final result was declared, had refused to sign the result sheet despite its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, having earlier conceded defeat.
‎The agent of the PDP, Bello Fadile, who was in attendance when parties were being called upon to sign the result sheet, told journalists shortly after the result was declared that the party was not satisfied with the outcome of the election and had decided to challenge it at the election tribunal.
“Whether I sign it (the result sheet) or I don’t sign it,  does not make any difference. It doesn’t invalidate the result‎. When we go to court, then we can challenge the result,” Fadile said.
When asked to confirm if the PDP will challenge the result at the presidential election petitions tribunal, Fadile added, “Sure! The party petitioned. Don’t forget. So the party will follow through the petition. There are rules for this. The law is there.
“The result was declared on the 1st of April, I think. We will follow the due process. Like the president (Jonathan) said, ‘If you have any grievances, follow due process and the due process in this instance is to go to the tribunal.”

How not to win a Nigerian presidential election.

  • How not to win a Nigerian presidential election.
    • Declare that you won’t contest a second term then go back on your words and contest
    • Don’t give a damn about declaring your assets
    • Politicize chibok girl’s saga and claim it’s a lie and manipulation of the opposition
    • Wait till 6weeks before the delayed elections to seriously tackle book haram
    • Privatize darkness (sorry power) and make Nigerians pay hefty fees for the darkness
    • Do not implement oil subsidy probe report rather constitute a committee to constitute another committee that will implement
    • Grant pardon to formerly imprisoned corrupt public office holders
    • Declare that corruption is not stealing
    • Choose not to prosecute corrupt people or “even show them on the TV”
    • Write a computer program abi na technology to fight corruption (Even oyibo no get that type)
    • Be unable to account for 20billion dollars NNPC funds rather sack the CBN governor
    • Release your media representatives aka attack dogs and lion to continue insulting the intelligence of Nigerians as a cover up for you hopelessness in government.
    • Buy weapons at 9.5million dollars cash with a citizen’s private jet.
    People there’s a lot more from where this came but this should clearly show why Nigerians lost faith in a man they overwhelmingly voted for in 2011.
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        Say stealing is not corruption
        Outsource your functions to a co-coordinating minister
        be unable to string a complete sentence with some sense in it
        say you will rule for 60 years
        claim to be the biggest economy and not be able to feed your people
        Claim that you spoke with the ruler of another country when you didnt
        receive audit reports and set up committee to look into another committee
        ensure that 16 is greater than 19
        make sure that you contravene electoral laws by bringing an impeached candidate as your candidate in Ekiti
        withdraw the security details of the number 4 man because of defection
        use the NSA to scuttle scheduled elections
        use the IGP to say people should withdraw from pooling booths so you can rig
        clamp down on opposition members
        unleash electronic surveillance on citizens
        ensure that we are disrespected all over the world 
        push blames on others while you enjoy the privileges of office.

        PDP declines signing Presidential poll result sheet

        PDP declines signing Presidential poll result sheet


        The  Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday  refused to sign the final result sheet for the March 28 presidential election, which it lost to Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) of the All Progressives Congress.
        This was despite that the PDP presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had  conceded defeat earlier before the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and Chief Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Attahiru Jega, returned Buhari as the President-elect at about 3.44am on Wednesday.
        One of the PDP agents, Godsday Orubebe, who had earlier caused a row when the collation exercise continued on Tuesday, had left the National Collation Centre in Abuja before the announcement of the final result by Jega.
        The second agent, Bello Fadile,  was present ‎when party agents were being called upon to sign the result sheet.
        At about 3.36am when Fadile approached the podium, where Jega was seated, instead of signing the result sheet as other agents invited before him had done, he only spoke few words in hushed tones to the INEC boss, shook hands with him (Jega) and returned to his seat.
        Fadile however waited till the end ‎of the event at about 3.53am to receive a copy of the result.

        How Jonathan lost

        How Jonathan lost


        President Goodluck Jonathan
        IF President Goodluck Jonathan was afraid of the outcome of the just concluded presidential election, he never showed it. Before the election was held, he had started giving conditions on the type of people he wanted to dominate the forthcoming Eighth National Assembly
         “I would want you to elect members of the Peoples Democratic Party to the National Assembly so that I can work with people who are not rancorous” – President Goodluck Jonathan told party supporters at one of his numerous presidential rallies.
        But like the biblical Moses, Jonathan has failed to lead his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to his dreamland. His reign has brought to an abrupt end the 16-year uninterrupted reign of the party, whose former National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, had boasted would remain in power for at least 60 years. A senior employee of the party told our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday that the former party chairman could have probably meant 16 years in his projection.
        Though the President didn’t start out to fall by the wayside, some states actually plotted his downfall. Principal among them were the five out of the six states of the South-West. Traditionally, the President, being a southerner was expected to have wormed his way into the hearts of the people of the South-West. This was because when he was being haunted by the then presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, who was his major challenger in 2011, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Jonathan came to seek the backing of the zone. All of the states in the zone obliged him except Osun, where he lost. But in other states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo, he won.
        However, in 2015, it was a different scenario as only the people of Ekiti State seemed to still remain friendly with the President. With a little margin, he got 176,466 votes as against 120,331 votes of Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Even in Ondo State, where the President’s party is in charge, the people revolted. In unison, the majority of the people abandoned him for Buhari by giving him 251,368 votes as against 299,889 they collectively gave the former Head of State.
        Taking a leaf from the South-West example, some states in the North-Central, which were traditional supporters of the President, also deserted him. Those states include Benue, Kogi and Kwara. A former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, was among the members of the PDP, who were hounded out of the party. Saraki threw his hat into the ring and joined forces with the opposition to give a killer blow to his former party and its presidential candidate.
        Though the President was able to make a showing in other states from the zone, voters from the North-West were not considerate of Jonathan in their voting. The only zone with seven states witnessed all of them chorusing in harmony and actively participated through their votes in the revolution that sacked Jonathan from Aso Rock. These states are Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna.
        It was also not a rousing outing for the outgoing President in the North-East, where his government has been battling Boko Haram insurgency. Five out of the six zones voted for change and rejected continuity which the President campaigners said he represented. Voters from those states that would prefer President Jonathan to relocate to his Otuoke, Bayelsa State home, instead of spending another four years in office, were those of Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno and Gombe. The governors of the zone, who are members of his party and who he regularly referred to as his field commanders, were outrun by the voters with their Permanent Voter Cards, which they willingly used as their weapons. These governors are Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), James Ngilari (Adamawa) and Ibrahim Damkwambo (Gombe). Nevertheless, the President made a remarkable showing in Taraba State. But that was not enough to guarantee his second term ambition. These are the part of history-making states that made President Jonathan the first Nigerian president to lose his re-election bid. A return to Otuoke, therefore, beckons.
        The President would however not return alone. He is expected to be accompanied by members of his immediate family led by his wife, Patience, whose stay in Aso Rock has added a wide vocabulary to Nigeria’s political lexicon.
        Her many gaffes were said to have drawn more flaks for the President. If this was true, Patience was not bothered. While the President asked his supporters to moderate their speeches and stop hate campaigns, his wife was uncontrollable.
        Throwing caution into the winds on many occasions during the PDP women presidential rallies, Patience once described Buhari as “brain dead” and asked Nigerians to reject the retired soldier. Referring to his age, she said it was wrong for such a 72-year-old man to be dragging the office of the President with her husband.
        It was obvious that her counsel was not convincing enough to the voters, who in their millions voted for Buhari and rather asked Patience and her husband to vacate the opulent building they moved into since 2007.
        Copyright PUNCH.

        APC asks 19 Ekiti lawmakers to return

        APC asks 19 Ekiti lawmakers to return


        The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has asked the 19 APC lawmakers in the state to return and commence sitting, saying the end of impunity has come with the victory of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
        “Buhari’s victory marks the beginning of sanity in the polity wracked by lawlessness, corruption and impunity. All democratic institutions will operate unfettered within the ambit of the law.
        “On this note, we urge our 19 members in the House of Assembly to return to work immediately and take control of the affairs because a new era of law and order has returned,” the Ekiti APC said on Tuesday in a statement by its publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun.
        The party congratulated Nigerians for their peaceful conduct in the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections that returned Buhari as the winner and told the residents of the state to defy the curfew imposed on the state by Governor Ayo Fayose.
        It commended its members and supporters for recording remarkable votes despite provocations, inducements, harassments and infractions on their rights by the state government.
        The APC described the curfew as “sheer wickedness on the part of Governor Fayose to want to prevent” the people from celebrating and described the curfew as wicked.
        The party urged the police not to allow them to be used as “anti-democratic agents to unleash terror on Ekiti people and APC members.”
        The statement read, “Our party has asked its members to defy order barring them from celebrating their party’s victory because it is their legal right. We are not fighting; we are celebrating.
        “Fayose should remember that he urged Ekiti people to defy Governor Kayode Fayemi’s curfew order when there was apparent threat to peace in the state. This time, there is no threat to peace and so there is no authority that can bar Ekiti people from celebrating our liberty and this victory. End of impunity has come.
        “It is not only victory for Ekiti people, but victory for Nigerians for a successful transition from one civilian administration to another.
        “Nigerians from all walks of life are celebrating this special moment, Ekiti cannot be an exception. We are not mourning but celebrating. It is sheer wickedness on the part of Governor Fayose to want to prevent this celebration.”
        According to him, the victory of the APC’s candidate is a vote for transparency, performance and building of hope among Nigerians, assuring that Buhari would take Nigeria back to her deserved position in the comity of nations.

        Jubilation as Obasanjo, Sultan, others hail Buhari

        Jubilation as Obasanjo, Sultan, others hail Buhari



        Jubilant crowd in Minna, Niger State
        Wild jubilation erupted across Nigeria on Tuesday following the victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the March 28 presidential election, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
        The 72-year-old Katsina-born former Head of State defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in an epic electoral battle, winning in 21 states of the federation while Jonathan won in 15 and the Federal Capital Territory.
        From the North-East to the North-Central, North-West, South-South, South-East and South-West, the young, the old, male and female trooped out to celebrate a history-making political victory in the annals of the country.
        The victory marked the first time political power at the centre would shift from the conservatives to the progressives in a country, whose politics is strewn along the pathways of ethnicity, religion and corruption.
        A cross-section of prominent Nigerians has, however, described the victory of Buhari, who had failed on three consecutive attempts to clinch the presidency, as the dawn of a new order for Nigeria.
        Prominent among those who reacted to Buhari’s victory, were his ardent critics such as a chieftain of pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo; leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams; National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Fredrick Fasehun, among others.
        However, encomiums and congratulatory messages poured in from prominent Nigerian leaders, especially members of the APC, who described the victory as deserving.
        Obasanjo, Atiku react
        Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has congratulated Buhari over his victory at the poll, charging him to fight corruption and carry out reforms in different sectors.
        Obasanjo, who noted that so much harm had already been done to many national institutions including the military,however, advised him to be magnanimous in victory.
        He said, “With so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured you and I, you will have a lot to do on institution reforms – education, health care, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agri-business, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.”
        Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also congratulated the winner, saying the victory symbolises national rebirth.
        He said, “Your victory in the polls, with votes from across the length and breadth of our country, bears witness to the acceptance of not just our party, the APC, but also your ideology of justice, fair play and zero tolerance for corruption as the bedrock for national rebirth.”
        Sultan of Sokoto
        The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, hailed Nigerians for coming out to peacefully vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections.
        The Sultan also commended President Jonathan for calling Buhari to congratulate him on his victory at the polls.
        He made the comments while speaking with Channels TV about the elections.
        He said, “I have heard so many comments from so many people across the country and some parts of the world. The elections have been very peaceful in most part of the country and I have seen that the voters and electoral officials behaved very well and everything went so smoothly.”
        Prominent politicians
        Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, described the victory as “the best thing that can happen to a country that has endured 16 years of misrule at the centre.”
        In a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, on Tuesday, Aregbesola said, “Nigeria has finally been rescued from the jaws of death after 16 years of social, political and economic strains.”
        Speaking in a similar vein, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, described Buhari’s victory as the best thing to happen to Nigeria’s democratic experience and a signal to the end of the Peoples Democratic Party at all levels.
        Amaechi, who spoke on Tuesday through his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, explained that the PDP refused to deliver the goods to Nigerians for the past 16 years, promising that Nigerians would soon begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
        He said, “General Buhari’s victory is no doubt the best thing that has happened to the whole of our democratic experience in Nigeria. Of course, his victory will signal the end of the PDP at all levels.”
        A former National Secretary of the PDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described the victory as a huge victory for democracy and for all Nigerians.
        Oyinlola, a former Osun State governor, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, said in a statement on Tuesday that “the peaceful manner change came to Nigeria showed the hand of God in the nation’s affairs.”
        Congratulating the President-elect, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said the victory signalled a new dawn in the nation’s polity
        Oshiomhole, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, said, “The spread of your victory across the length and breadth of the country shows your national acceptance as the man Nigeria needs at this critical stage to reposition her from the 16 years of misrule of the PDP.”
        He added, “Despite the smear campaigns against your person and candidature and the attempts to polarise the country along ethnic and religious lines, Nigerians made a bold statement by speaking through their ballots that you are, indeed, the President they want at this time of our national history.”
        A former Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, said the victory was ordained by God, adding that Buhari’s emergence was the climax of a political revolution whose time has come.
        Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said by the victory he had been justified for his decision to be part of the merger that resulted in the creation of the APC.
        Okorocha, who is the Chairman of APC Governor’s Forum, in a statement signed by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said it “would have been disastrous for the lgbo to be excluded in the new order in Nigeria.”
        A former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said the emergence of Buhari signposted a new beginning for Nigeria.
        Fayemi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, said, “History has just been made in our dear country. Nigerians have spoken. They have spoken clearly through their votes. They want a new direction and a new approach to governance and the APC government under the able leadership of General Muhammadu Buhari owes them this and more.”
        A renowned professor of political economy and former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and President Jonathan deserved credit for a successful conduct of the presidential election on Saturday.
        He said, “This election was won by the poorest of the poor and unless the government focuses on uplifting the poorest of the poor, then we have missed the road. One of the ways to do this is to determine the biggest challenges that the majority of the Nigerian people face.”
        Northern Governors’ Forum
        The Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday, congratulated the President-elect on his electoral success.
        Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, said the victory of Buhari should be seen as victory for Nigeria’s democracy and the collective progress of the nation.
        Aliyu also hailed President Jonathan for conceding defeat, saying history will remember him for his political maturity.
        One dies celebrating in Jos
        One person was killed in Bukuru area of Jos-South Local Government Area of Plateau State as jubilant youths celebrated the victory of Buhari.
        One of our correspondents gathered that the youths trooped into the streets as soon as news filtered in at about 5.45 pm that Jonathan had phoned Buhari to congratulate him.
        An eyewitness said that the victim died around Kugiya area of Bukuru.
        Also, jubilant youths from Gangere area of Jos-North marched through Muritala Mohammad Way, singing and jubilating.
        Edo declares holiday
        The Edo State Government has declared today a work-free day to celebrate the victory of Buhari.
        Oshiomhole, in a statement signed by Okhiria, on Tuesday, also declared a victory party, which he said would hold on the same day.
        The statement read, “Meanwhile, the state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, invites the people of the state to a victory party which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City, starting from 3pm on Wednesday, April 1.”
        Celebration galore
        Wild celebrations erupted across the country on Tuesday with jubilant youths storming through cities and towns.
        Sagamu, Ijebu Ode
        Hundreds of Buhari supporters took to the streets of Sagamu and Ijebu Ode on Tuesday to celebrate.
        In Sagamu, the party supporters thronged the party secretariat on Ewusi Street around 6pm armed with brooms amidst fanfare to celebrate Buhari’s victory.
        Osogbo
        It was celebration galore in Osogbo as youths also took to the streets. From Oke-Fia to Ola Iya to Oke Baale, hundreds of youths sang the praise of Buhari to high heavens.
        Gani Adams, Fasehun, Adebanjo, Ogunlewe react
        Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has hailed the outcome of the election.
        He urged Buhari to prove the Yoruba elders wrong by adhering to the tenets of democracy.
        Adebanjo, who is a staunch supporter of President Jonathan, said the wishes of the people must be respected.
        The 87-year-old said, “I have nothing personal against Buhari, I don’t hate the man but I cannot forget what he did in the past. He says he is now a democrat but we did not believe him. But now that he has won, he must prove us wrong by being a true democrat.”
        Also speaking with one of our correspondents in a separate interview, Gani Adams, described the poll as the will of God.
        Adams had promised Jonathan six million votes and was criticised for leading a protest in Lagos to drum support for Jonathan two weeks ago.
        When asked what would become of the N4bn pipeline contract awarded to the OPC by the outgoing Jonathan administration, he said, “On the issue of the contract, we are all Nigerians and we fought for it. I am not an opportunist, we fought for it and we are entitled to that contract and I know Gen. Buhari knows the right thing to do at the right time.”
        He said, “The contract was awarded to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t think a change of personality in government can stop it.”
        However, Fasehun, said Buhari did not have the power to terminate the contract.
        He said, “The contract was awarded to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t think a change of personality in government can stop it.”
        Also speaking with one of our correspondents, a former Minister of Works, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, urged Buhari, to be fair to all Nigerians and not to forget his campaign promises.
        Ogunlewe, who is a chieftain of the PDP in Lagos, described the elections as a victory for democracy and Nigerians. He also thanked the people of Lagos for delivering over 600,000 votes to President Jonathan.
        He said, “Nigerians have spoken and I congratulate them. Buhari must be fair to all. He should justify his victory by making Nigeria better than he met it. He must also keep the promises he made to them.

        Kashamu congratulates Buhari

        Kashamu congratulates Buhari
         01.Apr.2015  DISQUS_COMMENTS  
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        CHAIRMAN, South West Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and senator-elect, Chief Buruji Kashamu, has congratulated the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory at the poll.
        In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kashamu described Buhari’s victory as well-deserved and hard fought, adding that “majority of Nigerians have spoken and we must all respect their wish.
        “As a loyal party man, I campaigned for my party and candidate to the best of my ability. Now that the elections have been won and lost and Nigerians have spoken, we must respect the wish of the majority and move on with our lives, since Nigeria is greater than our personal interests and political affiliations.”
        Kashamu hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for not interfering with the electoral system and for conceding defeat, adding that “with his conduct and exemplary leadership, he has secured for himself a place in the annals of history as an elder statesman and a true democrat.”

        Jonathan congratulates president-elect

        Jonathan congratulates president-elect

           
         
         
           

        Gen, Muhammadu Buhari
        Maj.Gen, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is the President-elect. And this is official.
        The Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the 2015 presidential election at exactly…on Tuesday after two days of collation of the results from states in Abuja.
        He polled 15,424,921 to defeat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who scored 12,853,162 votes.
        As of Monday when INEC began the collation and announcement of the results at the National Collation Centre for the President Election located at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, Buhari had won 10 states with 8,520, 436 votes. Jonathan recorded victory in eight states and the Federal Capital Territory with 6,488,210 votes.
        When the collation resumed and progressed on Tuesday, signs that the Katsina State-born former Head of State, who had previously taken a shot at the Presidency thrice, would win the election became clearer.
        Buhari had contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party candidates (Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan).
        Before Jega drew the curtains on the exercise, Jonathan called Buhari on the telephone to congratulate him.
        According to the result announced by INEC, Buhari won five out of the six states in the South-West while Jonathan emerged victorious in one.
        At the end of the exercise on Wednesday morning, Buhari won 21 states and Jonathan 15 plus the FCT.
        In Lagos State, the APC presidential candidate got 792,460 votes, while his PDP counterpart garnered 632,327 votes.
        Buhari polled 308,290 votes in Ogun State while Jonathan had 207,950 . In Oyo State, the former Head of State got 528,620 and the President received 303,376 votes.
        The president-elect also won Osun State with 383,603 to defeat Jonathan, who had 249,929. Jonathan lost Ondo, a PDP state, to the president-elect. Buhari polled 299,889 votes, while the President got 251,368 .
        But the President won in Ekiti State, where he got 176,466 votes to defeat Buhari, who received 120,331.
        The incoming president emerged victorious in all the seven states in the North-West. In Sokoto State, he had 671,926 votes; Zamfara, 612,202; Kano, 1,903,999; and Jigawa, 885,988.
        In Katsina, his home state, Buhari got 1,345,441;   1,127,760 in Kaduna   and 567,883 in Kebbi.
        Jonathan secured 152,199 votes in Sokoto; 144,833   in Zamfara; 215,779 in Kano;   142,904 in Jigawa;   98,937 in Katsina; 100,972 in Kebbi   and 484,085 in Kaduna.
        Buhari defeated Jonathan in five of the six states in the North-East, where he polled 473,543 votes in Borno; 374,701 in Adamawa; 931,598 in Bauchi; 361,245 in Gombe and 446,265 in Yobe.
        The incoming president, however, lost Taraba by scoring 261,326 votes as against the President’s   310,800 .
        Jonathan received 25,640 votes in Borno; 251,664 in Adamawa; 86,085 in Bauchi; 25,526 in Yobe; and 96,873 in Gombe.
        Also, Buhari won four out of the six states in the North-Central. In Benue State, he polled 373,961 votes; 264,851 in Kogi; 302,146 in Kwara and 657,678 votes in Niger.
        He was defeated in Plateau State, where he had 429,140 votes and Nasarawa, where he narrowly lost to Jonathan, who secured 273,460 votes while he received 236,838 votes.
        In the zone, the outgoing president also won in Plateau State, where he had 549,615 votes.
        But he lost the four remaining states, including Kogi, where he garnered 149,987 votes; Kwara, 132,602 votes; Niger, 149, 222 votes and Benue, 303,737 votes.
        Buhari was unable to defeat Jonathan in the latter’s strongholds of South-South and South-East.
        In the South-South, Jonathan polled 953,304 votes in Akwa Ibom, while Buhari received 58,411 votes. In Bayelsa State, the President got 361,209 votes while the president-elect had 5,194 votes.
        In Delta State, Jonathan garnered 1,211,405 votes while the incoming President received 48,910 votes. The President got 286,869 votes in Edo State and Buhari had 208,469 votes.
        In Cross River State, the outgoing President had 414,863 votes, while the incoming President received 28,368 votes. Jonathan got 1,487,075 votes in Rivers State to defeat Buhari, who received 69,238 votes.
        Buhari also suffered defeat in the five South-East states. In Anambra, Jonathan polled 660,762 votes, while the President- elect got 17, 926 votes.
        In Abia State, the outgoing President had 368,303 votes while the APC presidential candidate received 13,394 votes.
        Buhari secured 19,518 votes in Ebonyi State where Jonathan polled 323, 653 votes. In Enugu State, the President had 553,003 votes, while the President-elect received 14,157 votes.
        Soldiers become unfriendly
        Soldiers, who were guarding the National Collation Centre, suddenly became hostile when the last result from Borno State was about to be released.
        After the announcement of the Delta State result at 6pm, Jega had said the last result would be made known at 8pm.
        Soldiers at the gate of the   venue   threatened to shoot journalists, including PUNCH photojournalist, Olatunji Obasa, who had gone out for break.
        He was barred from re-entering the collation centre.
        Jonathan congratulates Buhari
        At about 5.15pm on Tuesday when the last results were being read, Jonathan congratulated Buhari for his victory.
        A former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, who made this known,   commended   the President for his sportsmanship.
        Abubakar spoke with State House correspondents shortly after leading members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections to a closed-door meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
        While saying that they were in the   Villa to thank Jonathan for his statesmanship, the former military leader urged all stakeholders to emulate his (Jonathan) sportsmanship.
        He said, “We are here to ensure peace is maintained at this moment. We thank Nigerians and all members of the international community who came to support us during the elections.
        “The elections have been very peaceful despite the hitches here and there. At the end of the elections, at the counting, there are a lot of upheavals that have happened but thankfully they have been contained.
        “We were at the middle of a meeting with the international observers to try to see how we can still water the tension down when gladly I called Gen. Buhari that we are going to see him, he told me that Mr. President has called him at about 5:15 p.m. and congratulated him and conceded defeat.
        “We were spellbound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship.
        “In the history of Nigeria, I think this is the first time where a contestant has called his rival to congratulate him and through this point, President Jonathan maintained a point that the blood of Nigerians is not worth his Presidency and by his action he has proved that.
        “He has proved that he is a man of his word because during our interaction on this peace committee, he has always maintained that he is going to accept the result of the election whichever way it is done. And he has proved this.”
        Abubakar urged all Nigerians to join hands and assist the President in peaceful handing over.
        He said all politicians, those who are celebrating and those who are sorrowing, should give peace a chance.
        The former Head of State said, “In any contest, there is always going to be a winner and President Jonathan has accepted that he lost and we want to thank him on behalf of Nigerians.
        “I want to thank President Jonathan for being the statesman that he is, he has proved that he is a statesman and he has the love of this country in his heart. So Nigerians should please help him to ensure this is real.
        “For any Nigerian who is aggrieved, the electoral law has procedures seeking redress, so if anybody has any grievance, he should apply through the law.
        “I appeal again to our youths, to everybody to please give peace a chance and accept that the chief contestant himself has accepted.”
        Jonathan also met with the leadership of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections led by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abdusalami .
        Others at the meeting included the Primate of the Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Onayeikan; and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Priscilla Kuye.
        The PUNCH also gathered that while the announcement of the results was ongoing, some ministers and presidential aides trooped into the Villa to consult with Jonathan when it became clear to them that the election had been won and lost.
        The PDP chiefs led by the national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, were also said to have met with the President on the outcome of the election.



        Gen, Muhammadu Buhari
        Maj.Gen, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is the President-elect. And this is official.
        The Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the 2015 presidential election at exactly…on Tuesday after two days of collation of the results from states in Abuja.
        He polled 15,424,921 to defeat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who scored 12,853,162 votes.
        As of Monday when INEC began the collation and announcement of the results at the National Collation Centre for the President Election located at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, Buhari had won 10 states with 8,520, 436 votes. Jonathan recorded victory in eight states and the Federal Capital Territory with 6,488,210 votes.
        When the collation resumed and progressed on Tuesday, signs that the Katsina State-born former Head of State, who had previously taken a shot at the Presidency thrice, would win the election became clearer.
        Buhari had contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party candidates (Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan).
        Before Jega drew the curtains on the exercise, Jonathan called Buhari on the telephone to congratulate him.
        According to the result announced by INEC, Buhari won five out of the six states in the South-West while Jonathan emerged victorious in one.
        At the end of the exercise on Wednesday morning, Buhari won 21 states and Jonathan 15 plus the FCT.
        In Lagos State, the APC presidential candidate got 792,460 votes, while his PDP counterpart garnered 632,327 votes.
        Buhari polled 308,290 votes in Ogun State while Jonathan had 207,950 . In Oyo State, the former Head of State got 528,620 and the President received 303,376 votes.
        The president-elect also won Osun State with 383,603 to defeat Jonathan, who had 249,929. Jonathan lost Ondo, a PDP state, to the president-elect. Buhari polled 299,889 votes, while the President got 251,368 .
        But the President won in Ekiti State, where he got 176,466 votes to defeat Buhari, who received 120,331.
        The incoming president emerged victorious in all the seven states in the North-West. In Sokoto State, he had 671,926 votes; Zamfara, 612,202; Kano, 1,903,999; and Jigawa, 885,988.
        In Katsina, his home state, Buhari got 1,345,441;   1,127,760 in Kaduna   and 567,883 in Kebbi.
        Jonathan secured 152,199 votes in Sokoto; 144,833   in Zamfara; 215,779 in Kano;   142,904 in Jigawa;   98,937 in Katsina; 100,972 in Kebbi   and 484,085 in Kaduna.
        Buhari defeated Jonathan in five of the six states in the North-East, where he polled 473,543 votes in Borno; 374,701 in Adamawa; 931,598 in Bauchi; 361,245 in Gombe and 446,265 in Yobe.
        The incoming president, however, lost Taraba by scoring 261,326 votes as against the President’s   310,800 .
        Jonathan received 25,640 votes in Borno; 251,664 in Adamawa; 86,085 in Bauchi; 25,526 in Yobe; and 96,873 in Gombe.
        Also, Buhari won four out of the six states in the North-Central. In Benue State, he polled 373,961 votes; 264,851 in Kogi; 302,146 in Kwara and 657,678 votes in Niger.
        He was defeated in Plateau State, where he had 429,140 votes and Nasarawa, where he narrowly lost to Jonathan, who secured 273,460 votes while he received 236,838 votes.
        In the zone, the outgoing president also won in Plateau State, where he had 549,615 votes.
        But he lost the four remaining states, including Kogi, where he garnered 149,987 votes; Kwara, 132,602 votes; Niger, 149, 222 votes and Benue, 303,737 votes.
        Buhari was unable to defeat Jonathan in the latter’s strongholds of South-South and South-East.
        In the South-South, Jonathan polled 953,304 votes in Akwa Ibom, while Buhari received 58,411 votes. In Bayelsa State, the President got 361,209 votes while the president-elect had 5,194 votes.
        In Delta State, Jonathan garnered 1,211,405 votes while the incoming President received 48,910 votes. The President got 286,869 votes in Edo State and Buhari had 208,469 votes.
        In Cross River State, the outgoing President had 414,863 votes, while the incoming President received 28,368 votes. Jonathan got 1,487,075 votes in Rivers State to defeat Buhari, who received 69,238 votes.
        Buhari also suffered defeat in the five South-East states. In Anambra, Jonathan polled 660,762 votes, while the President- elect got 17, 926 votes.
        In Abia State, the outgoing President had 368,303 votes while the APC presidential candidate received 13,394 votes.
        Buhari secured 19,518 votes in Ebonyi State where Jonathan polled 323, 653 votes. In Enugu State, the President had 553,003 votes, while the President-elect received 14,157 votes.
        Soldiers become unfriendly
        Soldiers, who were guarding the National Collation Centre, suddenly became hostile when the last result from Borno State was about to be released.
        After the announcement of the Delta State result at 6pm, Jega had said the last result would be made known at 8pm.
        Soldiers at the gate of the   venue   threatened to shoot journalists, including PUNCH photojournalist, Olatunji Obasa, who had gone out for break.
        He was barred from re-entering the collation centre.
        Jonathan congratulates Buhari
        At about 5.15pm on Tuesday when the last results were being read, Jonathan congratulated Buhari for his victory.
        A former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, who made this known,   commended   the President for his sportsmanship.
        Abubakar spoke with State House correspondents shortly after leading members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections to a closed-door meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
        While saying that they were in the   Villa to thank Jonathan for his statesmanship, the former military leader urged all stakeholders to emulate his (Jonathan) sportsmanship.
        He said, “We are here to ensure peace is maintained at this moment. We thank Nigerians and all members of the international community who came to support us during the elections.
        “The elections have been very peaceful despite the hitches here and there. At the end of the elections, at the counting, there are a lot of upheavals that have happened but thankfully they have been contained.
        “We were at the middle of a meeting with the international observers to try to see how we can still water the tension down when gladly I called Gen. Buhari that we are going to see him, he told me that Mr. President has called him at about 5:15 p.m. and congratulated him and conceded defeat.
        “We were spellbound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship.
        “In the history of Nigeria, I think this is the first time where a contestant has called his rival to congratulate him and through this point, President Jonathan maintained a point that the blood of Nigerians is not worth his Presidency and by his action he has proved that.
        “He has proved that he is a man of his word because during our interaction on this peace committee, he has always maintained that he is going to accept the result of the election whichever way it is done. And he has proved this.”
        Abubakar urged all Nigerians to join hands and assist the President in peaceful handing over.
        He said all politicians, those who are celebrating and those who are sorrowing, should give peace a chance.
        The former Head of State said, “In any contest, there is always going to be a winner and President Jonathan has accepted that he lost and we want to thank him on behalf of Nigerians.
        “I want to thank President Jonathan for being the statesman that he is, he has proved that he is a statesman and he has the love of this country in his heart. So Nigerians should please help him to ensure this is real.
        “For any Nigerian who is aggrieved, the electoral law has procedures seeking redress, so if anybody has any grievance, he should apply through the law.
        “I appeal again to our youths, to everybody to please give peace a chance and accept that the chief contestant himself has accepted.”
        Jonathan also met with the leadership of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections led by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abdusalami .
        Others at the meeting included the Primate of the Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Onayeikan; and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Priscilla Kuye.
        The PUNCH also gathered that while the announcement of the results was ongoing, some ministers and presidential aides trooped into the Villa to consult with Jonathan when it became clear to them that the election had been won and lost.
        The PDP chiefs led by the national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, were also said to have met with the President on the outcome of the election.