Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu Photo: Sun News Publishing

More Stories on This Section

For the second time, former deputy senate president, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu has failed in h is bid to return to the National Assembly, losing the Plateau Central Senatorial re-run election held last week.

Senator Sati Gogwin of the Action Congress (AC) whose victory in the April 2007 election was voided due to the omission of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) logo from the ballot paper beat Mantu again.

Announcing Gogwin’s victory at the Pankshin collation centre amidst tight security on Sunday, the Director of Operation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who was the returning officer, Ndechi Okechukwu said the senator polled 141,297 votes to defeat Mantu of the PDP, who scored 103,513 votes.

In Mangu, Senator Mantu’s own local government, Senator Sati Gogwin defeated him with 32,685 against Mantu’s 30,977 and also in Kanam which is also his stronghold, Mantu defeated Gogwin slightly by scoring 34,685 against 20,708 scored by the AC candidate.
In Kanke, Gogwins local government of origin, Mantu could only poll 6,158 votes as against Gogwin’s 31,489 votes. Also in Pankshin, Gogwin polled 37,307 votes as against Mantu’s 19,041.
In Bokkos, Chief Joshua Dariye’s stronghold, Gogwin scored 19,108 as against Mantu’s 12,663. The result meant that the former Governor Dariye, who has been in the AC since his suspension from the PDP succeeded in delivering his area to the Action Congress.

Senator Mantu’s defeat, political watchers said, was not unconnected to the stand by the PDP controlled state government not to give its support to him.
Despite all moves to settle the rift between them, Governor Jonah Jang did not appear to feel safe with Mantu returning to the Senate.

Another reason given for his defeat was Mantu’s support for third term dream of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the imposition of state of emergency on the state.
The re-run election, which witnessed a massive turn-out of voters and was acknowledged by all the candidates as peaceful, went on till 5.00p.m. last Saturday.
In most of the polling booths, the materials arrived on time and as at 9.00 a.m. voting had begun.
Senator Mantu had shortly after casting his vote at Chanso polling unit in his village said if defeated, he would accept the result as the will of God and the people.

He expressed his gratitude to God for giving him the second chance to try and regain his Senate seat.
Senator Gogwin who was optimistic from the beginning said though he was accused of being inactive in his first year at the Senate, he could not have done much with a court case still hanging on his head.
He said he could not have performed better than the man who was in the Senate for eight years, because the first year was a learning process for him. He gave an assurance that if given the second chance, he would certainly make the Plateau people proud.

Meanwhile, Ishaya Achangat, the House of Representative member for Irigwe/Bassa constituency whose victory was annulled due to the omission of DPP logo from ballot paper in the 2007 election, has been re-elected.