Tambuwal Wins Sokoto Governorship Polls

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been declared as the winner of the Saturday’s gubernatorial polls.

Tambuwal scored 647,609 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Abdallah Wali scored 269,074 votes.

Declaring the results on Sunday, the State Returning Officer, Prof. Abubakar Bagudo said that of the 926,682 votes, Tambuwal scored the highest number of votes while 32,054 votes were recorded as rejected.

Read Tambuwal’s Acceptance speech below:

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE SOKOTO STATE GOVERNOR–ELECT HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL, CFRMUTAWALLEN SOKOTO SUNDAY 12TH APRIL, 2015

1. I stand here today grateful to the Almighty Allah (SWT) for this glorious moment. I want to thank the people of Sokoto State for their remarkable display of abiding confidence in our dear party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Myself and the Deputy Governor-Elect are truly humbled by your sustained show of support, trust and confidence in the face of orchestrated provocations and attempts to subvert the Will of the PEOPLE, we remain grateful for honouring us with your mandate, This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly, and we will endeavour to continue to provide good governance in Sokoto State with utmost transparency and fairness.

2. We have nothing but respect for our political opponents and we wish to commend them for running such a competitive campaign and for opening our eyes to so many new perspectives regarding our democratic process. Our hand of friendship is again extended to all those who wish to join us in the great task of moving Sokoto State forward.

3. We have no illusions about the fact that our success at the polls was the result of the goodwill, perseverance and enduring capacity of our people to make the right choices when the chips are down.

4. We therefore owe our victory to the generosity of a great many people who have given their energy and resources to make this day possible. In fact, this victory is the culmination of a process began by our great leader, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, whose remarkable foresight and towering political acumen have garnered the All Progressives Congress (APC) such unassailable sympathy in the hearts of the people.

5. We want to assure our able Leader that his contributions to the development of Sokoto State will remain evergreen in our memory. As I reiterated during our electioneering campaigns, Governor Wamakko’s laudable programmes for the development of Sokoto State shall be sustained and consolidated. On behalf of all the elected leaders of our people in Sokoto State, I wish to commend him for his fearless leadership, admirable patriotism and unique humility.

6. We recognize the historical role of the traditional institution in the lives of our people and in engendering development in the State. We shall therefore continue to cherish every valuable input that the institution will make to the government.

7. We have started a new journey in Sokoto State and in Nigeria at large. We are determined to make government responsive to the needs of the people. The incoming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari is a tested Leader who appreciates the enormity of the challenge of NATIONAL RENEWAL which the mandate freely given to him charts clearly for him and his team.

8. May I, assure the President-Elect of our continuous support so that together the Hopes and Aspirations of our people shall be commendably consolidated.

9. Our fellow brothers and sisters, We make a solemn pledge to you today that this government shall be fair to one and all, and shall at all times work hard to meet the yearnings of our people for responsive and responsible governance. As the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, I understand the expectations of my immediate Constituency and the wider national political family in my new Public Service engagement.

10. I pray Almighty Allah to give us the wisdom and the ability to meet up to expectations.

11. Thank you and may Allah bless our endeavours.