The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun issuance of certificates of return to the newly elected governors in the 2023 general elections in 26 states. The commission will also issue certificates of return to the newly elected lawmakers into the state legislatures in the 36 states of the federation.
INEC has indicated that the presentation of certificate of returns commences on Wednesday, running through Friday to winners of the March 18 elections. The certificates would be issued to the beneficiaries at the INEC offices in each state.
Recipients of the certificate of return for the governorship election include seven re-elected governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos tate, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Mai Mala Muni of Yobe State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.
Others include eight first time winners in the APC, Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
Also in the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), beneficiaries include two re-elected governors – Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; as well as seven newly elected governors – Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State, Kefas Agbu of Taraba State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, including Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, who unseated Governor Bello Matawalle of the APC.
Others include Abba Kabir of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State, and Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State.
INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, had emphasised in a statement on Saturday that Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates the Commission to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned elected under the law.
The INEC on Wednesday presented certificate of return to Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State of Rivers State and the deputy governor-elect, Ngozi Odu, including the 32 members-elect of the Rivers State House of Assembly.