On February 25, 2023, the people of Nigeria went to the polls to elect their next president and vice president. The election was keenly contested by 18 candidates, all of whom had campaigned vigorously across the country for several months.
After a long and tense day of voting, the results of the election were finally collated at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was tasked with announcing the results, and the whole country waited with bated breath to hear who would emerge as the winner.
In the end, it was Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who emerged victorious. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, had run a well-organized campaign, crisscrossing the country to rally support from voters. He had promised to tackle corruption, create jobs, and improve the country’s infrastructure.
Tinubu’s running mate was Kashim Shettima, the former governor of Borno State. Shettima, a respected politician and administrator, had gained a reputation for his efforts to rebuild his state after years of insurgency and conflict.
When the results were announced, there was jubilation across the country as Tinubu’s supporters celebrated their victory. The APC had polled a total of 8,794,726 votes, beating the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who came second with 6,984,520 votes.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party came in third with 6,101,533 votes, while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party emerged fourth with 1,496,687 votes. The other candidates, though they had put up a brave fight, had failed to make much of an impact in the election.
In recognition of his victory, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented Tinubu and Shettima with their Certificates of Return at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. The presentation was made by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, in the presence of other dignitaries, including senior politicians and representatives of civil society organizations.
As Tinubu and Shettima received their certificates, they both expressed gratitude to the Nigerian people for the trust and confidence they had placed in them. They pledged to work tirelessly to fulfill their campaign promises and to take Nigeria to greater heights.
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