The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to President-elect Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, hours after they were declared winners of the presidential election that was held February 25.
On Wednesday afternoon, amid pomp and circumstance, and in the midst of jubilant supporters, Mr Tinubu received his certificate from INEC chair, Mahmood Yakubu.
His excited supporters sang “Bola, on your mandate we shall stand,” and chanted “Awa lo kan” as Mr Tinubu raised the framed certificate, posing for photographs.
Mr Shettima, on his part, swayed to the podium amid shouts of “golden boy” from party supporters to receive his certificate of return from the electoral officials.
The ceremony was attended by vice president Yemi Osinbajo and several governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), former Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi and so on.
After the national anthem was sung at the close of the event, the president-elect walked out in style to “Asiwaju,” a Nigerian hit track which happens to be Mr Tinubu’s nickname.
Mr Tinubu would be sworn in as president of the nation on June 12, the nation’s democracy day.