Breaking News: President Jonathan Concedes Defeat, Congratulates Buhari

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Nigeria 2015 Election Tuesday, March 31st, 2015

For the first time in the history of Nigerian democratic governance, the current leading opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has won the 2015 Presidential election conducted last Saturday.

Buhari, a former Military Head of State defeated his main rival and the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as the States’ result collation just ended at the International Conference centre, FCT Abuja the exercise which put him ahead of President Jonathan with over 3 Million vote’s difference.

General Buhari and his party, APC won in 21 States, mostly in the entire Northern and South Western regions, while the ruling PDP recorded victory in 15 States, within South East and South South geo political zones, including a slight winning in the Federal capital territory, Abuja.

The opposition’s candidate polled a total of 14,915,378 as against the ruling party, that recorded a total of 12, 827,522.

The entire result sprang a historic surprise, as the ruling party lost its traditional strongholds, which included: Kogi, Kwara, Jigawa, Kaduna (home state of Jontahan’s VP, Namadi Sambo), Kebbi and Benue, the home State of the current Senate President, David Mark.

Similarly, pundits expressed shock with the Lagos State result, as the margin of winning was very close.

Lagos State is the home of the APC National Leader and former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The outcome was linked to the voting with tribal and religion influence on the South Easterners and South Southerns (residents) in the State.

The Rivers State result, despite the controversies and protest as well as disjointed figures presented by the State’s Collation officer, Professor Etu Efeotor was admitted and added to the remaining results.

The final and formal declaration of the winner is expected to be made by the INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega after the last states Borno, North east, Nigeria is announced.

Borno is the stronghold of the General Buhari and he is projected to win the state in the final results expected shortly.

In the meantime, African Examiner gathered that President Jonathan has conceded defeat and congratulated the winner, General Buhari.

State by state results

STATES APC PDP

OGUN 308,290 207,950
OSUN 383,603 249,929
KOGI 264,851 149,987
OYO 528,620 303,376
EKITI 120,331 176,446
ONDO 299,889 251,368
ENUGU 141,507 553,003
NASARAWA 236,838 273,477
ABUJA 146,399 157,195
KANO 1,903,909 215,779
JIGAWA 885,988 142,904
KATSINA 1,345,441 98,937
KWARA 302,146 132,602
KADUNA 1, 129,760 484,085
ANAMBRA 179,260 660,762
ABIA 13,394 368,303
AKWA IBOM 58,411 953,304
IMO 133,253 559,185
PLATEAU 429,140 549,615
EBONYI 19,558 323,653
NIGER 657,678 149,222
LAGOS 792,467 632,327
BAYELSA 5,194 361,209
GOMBE 361,245 96,873
CROSS RIVERS 28,368 414,863
RIVERS 69,238 1,487,075
ADAMAWA 374,701 251,664
ZAMFARA 612,202 144,833
KEBBI 567,883 100,972
EDO 208,469 286,869
BENUE 373,961 303,737
DELTA 48,910 1,211,405
SOKOTO 671,926 152,199
BAUCHI 931,598 86,085
YOBE 446,265 25,526
TARABA 261,326 310,800
BORNO ? 473,548 25,640

GRAND TOTAL: APC = 15,424,926 PDP = 12,853,162

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Jonathan’s Statement On his Defeat

Fellow Nigerians,

I thank you all for turning out en-masse for the March 28 General Elections.

I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure.

Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress.

As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.

I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going through the process of the March 28th General Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was demonstrated nationwide.

I also commend the Security Services for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violence-free.

To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning. We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.

For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation.

Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism.

I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.

I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General Muhammadu Buhari.

May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank you all.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, March 31, 2015