[eluser]MaD HamsteR[/eluser]
I don't know why, may be its my fault somewhere.
Please try it yourself and post results here.
I am using CI 1.7.1, don't know about 1.7.2, you shoul try it aswell.
Code:
$this->db->select("DATE_FORMAT('2009-05-11 12:11:10', '%d.%m.%Y') AS date", false);
$query = $this->db->get('_voters'); //any existing table for test
echo $query->row()->date;
Result
"ns" is my database tables prefix.