President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has congratulated the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidates on their victory in the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
Lawan particularly rejoiced with the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on his reelection and David Lyon for making history as the first governor Bayelsa has elected on a platform different from the outgoing ruling party in the state.
In a similar vein, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege felicitated with Yahaya Bello over his victory in the governorship election.
The Senate President praised President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing field that enabled the people to assert their sovereignty and choose their leaders.
“The impressive turnout of voters in the two states is a ringing endorsement of democracy by Nigerians as their preferred system, notwithstanding its current challenges,” Lawan said.
Lawan also thanked the security personnel for their sacrifices for peace and order in the face of great difficulties.
The Senate President enjoined the winners to be magnanimous in victory by accommodating all sections of the state in their governments and development agenda.
Lawan also admonished the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, to learn from the challenges experienced in the governorship elections of the two states with a view to constantly improving its institutional performance and the electoral process.
The Senate President called on the relevant agencies to ensure thorough prosecution of the electoral offenders in the two states to serve as deterrence to others.
Congratulating Bello on his re-election, Omo-Agege applauded all those who contributed to the success.
According to a statement on Monday signed by Mr Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege also praised the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Kaduna State Governor and Chairman of the APC Campaign Council in Kogi State, Nasir El-Rufai and other leaders who contributed immensely to the party’s victory.
While thanking the people of the state for reelecting the governor for second term, Senator Omo-Agege called on Governor Bello to deliver more dividends of democracy to the electorate by surpassing his first term achievements.
“I urge the governor to be magnanimous in victory by carrying all stakeholders in the state along,” he said.
The lawmaker also tasked contenders not satisfied with the outcome of the election to seek redress in law court.
Announcing the results of the poll at INEC office in Lokoja on Monday, Returning Officer, Professor Ibrahim Umar, declared Bello reelected, having polled a total of 406,222 votes to defeat his closest rival, Engineer Musa Wada of the PDP who garnered 189,704 votes.
