Lagos: Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat get INEC’s certificates of return

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificates of return to the Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

The commission said the House of Assembly election winners would get theirs next  Friday.

The National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, presented the certificates to Sanwo-Olu and Dr Hamzat.

Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner of the March 9 governorship election, and had polled 739,445 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who scored 206,141 votes.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Ogunmola said INEC needed the cooperation of the political parties to strengthen the electoral process in Nigeria, and congratulated Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat for their victory in the  election.

He  expressed confidence in the ability of the governor-elect to lead Lagos, saying “I have no doubt in my mind that you (Sanwo-Olu) have the qualities to lead Lagos.

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In his remarks, the governor-elect, who was accompanied by his wife, Ibijoke, said his administration would run an inclusive government, adding that his door was open to all Lagosians, including the 44 governorship candidates that contested with him, to contribute meaningfully to the progress of Lagos State.

He said: “I and my deputy,  extend congratulations to other 44 candidates that were not so successful. But I dare say that victory to one is victory to all. It is a victory to all of us and the entire Lagosians. It is to make life a lot better for our people and that is why, on the campaign train, that we have said we are going to run inclusive government. We will bring about strategy that we take Lagos to a greater height.

“We are using this unique opportunity to say the doors are open for other colleagues in other parties. We are one and the same; let us bring about positive development for our children, aged, in schools, hospitals, traffic management, public transportation, environment and making Lagos a cynosure of the entire African race.

“We are taking up this leadership and we are telling you that we will not put the confidence you have given to us to shame. We will not misuse the confidence you have given to us and we are using this opportunity to assure Lagosians that better times are out for us. God will spare our lives and give us good health to do it because we know that Lagosians really deserve the best and by extension, if we get it right in Lagos, you are getting it right in Nigeria because Lagos is where everything happen.”

Also speaking, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Sam Olumekun, said “the governorship election that produced you (Sanwo-Olu) was free of rancour and it was adjudged credible, smooth, peaceful, free and fair even by the international community.”

Olumekun while expressing reservation about low turnout during the elections, admonished the leadership of political parties, pressure groups, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and religious leaders, among others to rise up to the occasion in the area of voter sensitization, education and mobilsation of their followers to complement the effort of the Commission in ensuring large turnout of voters during elections.