Atiku Heads To Court As Buhari, Osinbajo Receive Certificates Of Return From INEC

BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA – Amidst disputations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the 2019 presidential polls’ results, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo with certificates of return.

The PDP candidate in the election, Atiku Abubakar in rejecting the result announced by the electoral umpire, said he will challenge in court alleged cases of ‘premeditated malpractices’ in many states that negate the polls’ outcome.

But in a brief and colourful ceremony held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, issued the certificates to Buhari and Osinbajo as President-elect and Vice President-elect respectively following their victory as All Progressives Congress (APC) flag-bearers in the February 23 presidential poll.

Yakubu, who is Nigeria’s Chief Returning Officer for the election, first invited Vice-President Osinbajo, followed by the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to sign and collect their Certificate of Return.

Both Mr President and Vice President were accompanied to the ceremony by their wives Aisha Buhari and Dolapo Osinbajo

The electoral umpire had early on Wednesday morning declared President Buhari as winner of the 2019 presidential poll.

In his acceptance speech, President Buhari promised Nigerians that they would soon see “a country moving to the `Next Level’ as the APC-led administration consolidates on its achievements”.

He also assured Nigerians of an all-inclusive government, pledging to continuously engage all parties as his administration would be operating an open door policy for the general progress of the country.

The President however, vowed to sustain the fight against corruption, warning against the primitive accumulation of public wealth by those given responsibilities to discharge for the overall good of the people.

In thanking God for the electoral victory, President Buhari also reiterated his appeal to all APC supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition, cautioning that “victory is enough reward for your efforts”.

Present at the event were APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governors, Serving Ministers, Security Chiefs, Heads of Para-Military agencies, Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

Also on ground to witness the event were Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i, presidential aides, and political appointees as well as family members of both the President and the Vice-President.