By Daniel Idonor, Henry Umoru & Umar Yusuf

YOLA —  Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was yesterday declared the winner of the Adamawa State gubernatorial election after beating off a stiff challenge by two of his main challengers.

Nyako, who won by less than majority of the votes immediately received well wishes from President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, the PDP and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The messages were laced with entreaties to him to unify the party stakeholders, many of who opposed him prior to the election.

Governor-elect of Adamawa State, Admiral Muritala Nyako (rtd) (left) and the Peoples Democratic Party, Pdp, chieftain, Chief Olabode George, after the announcement of the result of the gubernatorial election in Adamawa, yesterday.

Declaring the results of the election in Yola yesterday, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Hamisu Mohammed, said of the 685,103 valid votes recorded, Nyako polled 302,986, representing 44.2 per cent to beat the Action Congress of Nigeria,  ACN, candidate, Markus Gundiri, who recorded 260, 405 votes or 35 per cent.

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, candidate, Buba Marwa, came a distant third with 107,564 votes representing 15 per cent of the votes. Nyako won in 13 of the 21 local councils of the state, while ACN won in eight. Altogether, there are about 1,843,619 registered voters in the state. According to the returning officer, 26,850 votes were invalid.

Marwa got 25 per cent in three local governments, while PDP got the required 25 per cent in all the 21 councils.

According to the results, Dr. Zainab Kwonchi of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, got 2,846 votes, Usman Ahmed of All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, who had earlier withdrawn, secured 3,885 votes.

Nyako extends olive branch

Reacting to his victory, the Governor-elect, Nyako, extended a hand of fellowship to his fellow contestants, promising to run an inclusive government.

Jonathan, Mark, Atiku, others hail Nyako

President Jonathan in a statement by his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, “heartily” congratulated Nyako over his victory in the governorship election and urged the governor-elect to receive the fresh mandate given to him by the people of Adamawa State for a second term in office as a call to further duty in the service of his people and an immense opportunity to carry forward the policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote progress and development in Adamawa State.

Jonathan looked forward to continuing to work harmoniously with the governor-elect and the government of Adamawa State on the implementation of the Federal Government’s agenda for national transformation.

The President commended the PDP National Executive Committee, members of the state executive committee of the party and all stakeholders of the party in Adamawa for working very hard to ensure that Admiral Nyako won convincingly.

Jonathan also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies for the peaceful and successful conduct of the election and urged them “to keep up the good work in other governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Cross River and Sokoto states” later in the month.

On his part, Senate President Mark congratulated Nyako on his victory and urged the governor-elect to put behind him all political differences in the administration of the state by being a father to all.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, Mark advised Nyako to reconcile all sections of the state and carry everyone along.

The Senate President, who noted that the result of the keenly contested election reflected the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Adamawa people, stressed that it was imperative to bring everyone on board “because you need the co-operation and support of all citizens to successfully govern the state.”

He also urged the candidates who lost at the polls to accept defeat in good faith and join hands with the new administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Also, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, said Nyako’s re-election for a second term in office had affirmed his popularity among the electorate as well as demonstration of faith in the PDP by the people of the state.

Ihedioha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oke Epia, further commended the people of Adamawa State for the peaceful conduct of the polls, noting that they had displayed belief in popular franchise and by so doing contributed to the growth and development of democracy in the country.

He, however, urged Gundiri, Marwa and other contenders to join hands with Nyako to move Adamawa State forward in the interest of all.

To former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the task before the PDP in the state was for all stakeholders and members to unite and work together. He enjoined all stakeholders to stand behind Nyako in his quest to ensure good governance in Adamawa because “Adamawa State is a classic example of Nigeria’s complex ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.”

Atiku, however, urged Nyako and the PDP in particular, to carry all stakeholders along rather than isolating or alienating any group however small, adding that the ruling PDP should lead the way in terms of internal cohesion, unity and harmony.