Only seven of the 34 lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly were re-elected, results released by the electoral commission, INEC, show.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Shehu Tahir; Majority Leader, Muhammad Yunusa; and Minority Leader, Muhammad Ali, were among the lawmakers who lost their re-election bids.

The returnees are Yusuf Zailani (APC, Igabi West), Aminu Shagali (APC, Sabon Gari); Nasiru Maikano (APC, Ungwan Sanusi); Bityong Nkom (PDP, Kaura); Labari Shelly (PDP, Jema’a); Haruna M. A. Inuwa (Doka Gabasawa) and Kantiok Ishaku (PDP, Zonkwa).

The results also show that the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose governorship candidate, Nasir El-Rufai won the governorship election, will now have an absolute majority in the Assembly. The APC won 27 seats while the current ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won 7 seats.

Mr. El-Rufai defeated the incumbent governor, Ramalan Yero, by over 500,000 votes to win the election and is expected to be sworn in on May 29.

On Sunday, the governor-elect asked residents of the state to live in peace and not allow anyone incite them to violence based on religious differences. In a statement, he said he was determined to work with all residents of the state to restore its glorious past.

“Our good people of Kaduna State, we are again grateful for the mandate you gave us on 11th April, 2015. I am begging you in the name of Almighty God to live in peace and work together for a new Kaduna State,” Mr. El-Rufai stated according to a statement by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan.

“Let’s all strategise for a better state where peace, unity and development would abound by sowing positive seeds in the minds of our children, create a better state for them and coming generations by building for them a stronger Kaduna State.”

While saying manipulators of religion do not mean good, Mr. El-Rufai added that “those deceiving our citizens using religion and ethnicity don’t mean well; they are dangerous and they retard our progress as a people bound together by God.

“We must mobilize our people to stand up for the common good. I will reiterate again, that the APC led government in Kaduna state will be a responsible and responsive government.

“We we will treat people equally without any recourse to religion, or ethnic and political inclinations. We ask for your prayers, support and cooperation for a better Kaduna State.”