By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and his Deputy, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, were on Thursday, presented with the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their re-election in the State.
Others who also received their certificates of return were the House of Assembly members- elected across the 11 local government area council respectively.
This followed their victory at the just concluded governorship and state house of assembly elections.
Dr. Baba Bila who was the INEC Commissioner- in-charge of Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States, presented the Certificate to Governor Inuwa Yahaya and his Deputy, the Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim handed same to members- elect of the Gombe State House of Assembly.
In his speech during the occasion, Governor Inuwa said that his victory is for all citizens of Gombe State, assuring the people that, “this certificate I received today is a license for us to go all out to do more so that we deliver on the mandate given to us by the electorate “.
The Governor, however, appeal to those who contest and lost to take it as an act of God Almighty God, saying that “as in every electoral contest, there is bound to be winners and losers. But for me, there is no victor and no vanquished.”
He added that, “If the ultimate objective of all political parties and contestants is about the peace, progress and development of Gombe State, it behooves on all of them to support us in moving our dear State forward.”
He expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their support and peaceful conduct throughout the process.
The Governor-elect also described the 2023 elections as among the most credible polls in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999. He commended INEC and security agencies as well as all those who played roles in facilitating the successful conduct of the polls peacefully in Gombe State which was adjudged as free, fair and credible.
Speaking earlier, the Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, said that the presentation of Certificates of Return to winners in the just concluded Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections marks a great milestone and one of the major activities in the 2023 elections.
He urged the Governor- elect and others to see their elections as an indication of the confidence reposed in them by the electorates and a debt they must pay through the provision of the dividends of democracy.
The Gombe REC therefore congratulated the Governor- elect, his deputy and all elected members of the Gombe State House of Assembly on their victory at the polls.
He therefore thanked all stakeholders in the state for supporting the commission throughout its preparations for the conduct of the 2023 General Elections.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that the ceremony was held at the International Hotel, and which was graced by top government functionaries, APC chieftains, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others. NNL
