Nasarawa State Governor and APC's governorship candidate, Tanko Al-Makura, on Monday was declared winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in Lafia, the state capital. He dedicated his victory at the just concluded governorship election to the people of the state. He polled 309,746 votes to defeat former minister of Information and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labaran Maku, who scored 178,983. The PDP candidate, Yusuf Agabi, polled 119,782. Hajiya Ambaka of the Labour Party, (LP) scored 2,053 votes and Salihu Mamud of Accord Party, (AP) scored 623 votes while Zakkah Zagi Rabo of ADC polled 1,659 votes. The result was announced at the INEC headquarters in Lafia the state capital amidst tight security, by the State Returning officer, Professor Abdumumin Hassan Rafindadi. Rafindadi stated that the total number of accredited voters for the governorship election stood at 650,572 of 1,203,099 registered voters for the state, while valid votes cast was 613,508 and 9, 771 votes were rejected. Governor Al – Makura, when reacting to his victory at the government House, Lafia, governor Al-makura, said that the outcome of the election was the true reflection of the feelings of the masses yearning for development. He stated that his re-election would spur him to continue with the development programmes he has embarked upon in the last four years in the state. Al – Makura said: "My victory is victory for all the people of Nasarawa state. It is victory for all the people that contested with me because by their participation in this exercise they have endured due diligence in the process of democracy and I think they should also be appreciated for having faith in the system to participate in it. "I believe all of us are working towards one goal for the purpose of taking this state to the next level for the betterment of the people of the state." There was wide celebration on the streets of Lafia. Shouts of Ta’ Al rented the air. The roads leading to Government House and other adjoining streets were filled with supporters of the governor.
