Gyang Bere, Jos

The candidate of PDP, Senator Jeremiah Useni, has rejected the result of the supplementary governorship election in Plateau State and vowed to reclaim his stolen mandate in court.

This followed the declaration of the state governor, Simon Lalong, and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the poll.

The State Returning Officer of INEC, Prof. Richard Anande, declared Lalong winner of the governorship polls after polling a total of 595, 582 votes to beat Useni who scored 546,813 votes.

Sen. Useni, while briefing journalists on Sunday in Jos disclosed that he had directed his legal team to challenge the outcome of the poll at the election tribunal.

“Based on the result announced by INEC and the documents submitted by our own field staff, we have every reason to believe that justice has so far not been done to our people in this election, because of massive rigging and electoral shortcomings.

“After due consultation, I hereby state that the results announced by INEC are not acceptable to us. Consequently, we have requested our legal team to activate all the due processes to reclaim our cherished mandate; I give you my word that we will pursue this matter diligently, and by the grace of God, we will overturn and recover the people’s mandate.”

Useni applauded Plateau people for coming out en masse to vote for him and PDP, and appealed to the PDP family to  remain united and avoid blame game in pursuance of its stolen mandate.

“I appeal to all of us to unite all the more now and avoid any bickering and blame-giving; unity of purpose must be the source of our strength; let us remain focused on the struggle and avoid anything else that will distract and divide us. I want you to know that it is not yet over. This is only a temporary setback. We have entered another critical stage.”

Meanwhile,  Governor Simon Lalong said his administration would work with the opposition political parties and every stakeholder in the state for the development and prosperity of the Plateau people.

He noted that he will not harass, witch-hunt or intimidate his opponent, rather he would extend hands of friendship to consolidate on the existing peace in the state.

Lalong in his acceptance speech after he was declared winner of the supplementary governorship election cautioned the APC to celebrate in modest manner so that the PDP will not feel hurt.

“The outcome of the exercise in the state was clearly an amazing show of confidence and trust. It was also a referendum on our most cherished principles of unity and peace as well as an affirmation of the desire to move to the next level.

“Moving to the next level in the light of equality and inclusiveness, are core values fundamentally located in the heart of the Plateau spirit that speak to our sense of commonality, diverse ethnicity, mutual respect, tolerance, peace, hospitality, humility and diligence.

“To my fellow contestants, who not only participated in the historic gubernatorial debate, prior to the elections and also contested with me, I wish to congratulate you for your matured conduct during and after our electioneering.

“I also extend my hands of friendship and urge you to share in the patriotic zeal of building a virile Plateau so that we can bequeath a positive and lasting legacy for the younger generations.”

Lalong called on the citizens of Plateau to regard the victory at the polls as a victory for the whole Plateau with no victor, no vanquished.

He said the victory is a clarion call for consolidation on the gains of the administration and sustainable peaceful co-existence in the state.