President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he expected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge his victory at the February 23 Presidential election. Buhari was declared winner with over 15 million votes to Atiku’s over 11 million.
Asked by a journalist to react to Atiku’s decision, he simply said, “I expect that to happen”.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, cast their votes this morning at the Kofar Baru 003 polling unit, Daura, Katsina State, for the governorship and state assembly elections.
Asked about the flashpoints and reported cases of violence across the country, this week, and his advice to Nigerians on Election Day, the President said, “I will leave it to the law enforcement agencies especially the police because they have been meeting virtually on a 48-hour basis to make sure that they have identified the flashpoints, as you mentioned, wherever they are and make arrangements to counter it.
Buhari spoke as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, urged all Nigerians to set aside ethnic and religious sentiments and join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to build a better Nigeria.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote, alongside his wife, Dolapo, at the VGC Polling unit, Lagos State, for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
In a chat with journalists, the Vice President, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Friday, March 8, was asked about “the greatest gift he would want Nigerians to give him for this birthday.”
In response, the VP said, “One thing I would like very much is for all of us to work together towards building a great country. I think we all have what it takes to make this country truly great.
“And the greatest gift would be all of us working together, across tribes, across faith and the entire Nation coming together to work with President Buhari and the government to achieve the very best that we can.”
Prof. Osinbajo noted that he was pleased with the conduct of the elections at the polling unit thus far.
Below are excerpts from the VP’s chat with the media.
Q: Sir, what is your impression about the election process (so far).
Vice President: I’m quite pleased with what I’m seeing.
Q: The turn out this time around seems to be low?
Vice President: I’m in no position to say, especially because I just came, so I really don’t know whether it’s low or not low, I can’t really make a judgement. I don’t have enough facts to decide on that point. But I hope that as many people as possible, turn out to vote.
Q: Your Excellency, we need to congratulate you on your 62nd birthday, what is the greatest gift you would want Nigerians to give you for this birthday?
Vice President: “Well, one thing I would like very much is for all of us to work together towards building a great country. I think we all have what it takes to make this country truly great, and the greatest gift would be all of us working together, across tribes, across faith and the entire Nation coming together to work with President Buhari and the government to achieve the very best that we can.”
