Buhari is winner of presidential election, thanks Nigerians

The Chairman of the IndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2019 presidential elections.
Buhari is to get his Certificate of Return at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, four days after the election.
“I, Professor Mahmood Yakubu hereby certify that I was the returning officer for the election held on the 23rd of February, 2019.
“That Muhammadu Buhari having satisfied the requirements of the law, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby returned elected,” Yakubu declared
The President won with 15,191,847 votes to beat former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party who had 11,262,978 votes. Buhari won in 19 States, while Atiku did in 17 States and Abuja.
The courts may be the next port of call for the PDP which at a press conference, symbolically addressed by the Deputy Director-General (Administration) of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Barrister Tanimu Turaki SAN, demanded the cancellation of results declaration on Tuesday.
He, it was, too, who allegedly called a meeting of top lawyers in Abuja, in what many interpreted as the first tentative steps in a legal battle over the presidency.
However, in an early morning statement, the President thanked Nigerians for voting him in.
His full statement: “”My Dear Nigerians,
“First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God Who has spared our lives to witness another victory for Nigerian democracy and victory for our party APC.
“I thank the millions of Nigerians who voted to re-elect me as your president for the next four years. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct.
“In particular, I would like to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his masterful leadership as Co-chair of the Campaign Council. I would like to also thank the Party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, the Director General of the Campaign Council Rotimi Amaechi, all members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other various Support Groups.
“My grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the logistical expenses of the campaign in such a vast country like Nigeria.
“I also thank the millions of volunteers, self-appointed overseers, canvassers, agents, escorts and sentries who sacrificed so much of their time and resources to ensure the success of these elections. I do not have the words adequate to thank them.
“Although Saturday’s elections were relatively peaceful, troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process. Security agencies will bring to justice all those arrested in the process.
“I am very sad at the grievous loss of lives during these elections. Security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections.
“I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.
“I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.
“We give thanks also to our Domestic and International observers for contributing to the success of our elections and for their interest in our country and our developing democracy.
“The new Administration will intensify its efforts in Security, Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out.
“I thank you for your support and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”