By John Ikani
The United States has called on Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to address technical issues that arose during the just-concluded Presidential poll, before the upcoming governorship and state assembly elections on March 11.
The call was made by State Department Spokesperson, Ned Price, who acknowledged “the legitimate concerns of Nigerians” and urged INEC to improve in areas that need the most attention.
The spokesperson also advised aggrieved presidential candidates to use legal means to correct any anomalies, stating that there are established mechanisms in place for the adjudication of electoral disputes.
While commending the active participation of civil society groups and the media, for advancing electoral norms and political discourse on issues important to citizens, Price called on all parties, candidates, and supporters to “refrain from violence or inflammatory rhetoric during this critical time.”
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced that Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) won the election with the majority of votes cast across Nigeria.
Tinubu won 12 states, including; Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Borno, Zamfara, Jigawa, Ondo, Kogi, and Niger while Atiku of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) won Taraba, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Yobe, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, and Katsina States.
Obi of the Labour Party won Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Delta, Edo, FCT, Plateau, Nasarawa, Lagos, and Cross River.
The candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso, polled 1,496,687 votes to place a distant fourth, winning only Kano State.
