Governor Abubakar of Bauchi State, has a few hours ago, sent in his congratulatory message to the new Governor-elect of Bauchi State, and former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed on his victory in the just concluded Governorship election in the State.
Governor Abubakar who is the incumbent Governor, and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost his bid for re-election to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Bala Mohammed who polled 515,113 votes to defeat Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar who scored 500,625 votes.
Governor Abubakar as expected conceded defeat, as he writes Senator Bala Mohammed on his victory, while also inviting him on plans to work out a smooth transition process.
His congratulatory message reads:
“I wish to congratulate my brother, Senator Bala Mohammed on this victory at the polls.
I am delighted to note that in spite of the intensity of the campaigns in our dear state, a peaceful election took place without bloodshed.
Let me, therefore, invite the Governor-elect to join me in working out the process of a smooth transition.
I sincerely thank the entire people of Bauchi state for their support to my administration and urge them to extend the same to the incoming administration.
I also urge the governor-elect to caution his supporters to be law-abiding while celebrating, since the period of campaigns is now over.
God bless Bauchi and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” he said.
The governorship election in the state had earlier been ruled as inconclusive by INEC and March 23 fixed for a re-rerun poll in Tafawa Balewa local government area and some polling units in some other local government areas of the State.
INEC later reversed itself as it ordered the collation of the results. This followed a fact-finding report by a panel led by an INEC commissioner Festus Okoye. But Governor Abubakar challenged INEC’s volte-face in an Abuja High court.
The court initially ruled to stall INEC’s action, but on Monday, the court gave INEC the go-ahead to conclude the collation.
The Returning officer Professor Mohammed Kyari declared Bala Mohammed, a former senator and minister of the Federal Capital Territory as the winner of the election on Monday night.
“Bala Mohammed having scored the highest votes and satisfied all the requirements of the law is hereby declared Winner of the Governorship election in the state”, he said.