Off-season polls: Buhari thanks voters for ‘reaffirming confidence in Nigeria’s biggest political party’

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Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for winning the Imo and Kogi gubernatorial polls.

Off-cycle governorship elections were held on Saturday in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

APC’s Hope Uzodinma won the Imo governorship election by a landslide after securing the majority of votes cast.

The APC candidate polled 540,308 votes to beat Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 71,503 votes; and Athan Achonu of Labour Party (LP) who secured 64,081 votes.

In a similar vein, APC’s Usman Ododo was declared the winner of the Kogi state governorship election.

Ododo polled 446,237 votes to defeat Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who came second with  259,052 votes. Dino Melaye, candidate of the PDP, scored 46,362 votes.

According to a statement signed by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson, Buhari thanked party leaders for ensuring the victories of Uzodinma and Ododo.

He also thanked the residents of both states for reaffirming their confidence in the APC.

“Former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the All Progressives Congress @OfficialAPCNg on winning the Governorship elections in Imo and Kogi States, and thanks the people of the two States for reaffirming their confidence in the nation’s biggest political party,” the statement reads.

“The former President thanks particularly the party leaders and the workers who laboured tirelessly to ensure the re-emergence of Senator Hope Uzodimma @Hope_Uzodimma1 for his second term in Imo State, and Alhaji Usman Ododo @OfficialOAU as the new Governor of Kogi State.”

Shehu added that Buhari extended his best wishes to Uzodinma and Ododo during their tenures.