By Muhammad Tanko Shittu
Jos
Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau state has again secured another victory to retain his seat as governor.
This followed the dismissal of the petitions of Gyang Pwajok and that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (ETP).
Delivering judgment amidst tight security, the tribunal chairman, Justice Johnson Candide, said the petitions had failed in their entirety and were, therefore, “dismissed for lacking in merit.”
The tribunal was of the opinion that the petitioners’ witnesses (PW1-10) were “unreliable” and had “contradicted their individual selves,” while on cross examinations.
The tribunal held that it could not disregard the judgement of the Appeal Court and delivered an “alternative composite judgement” as pleaded by the petitioners’ counsel.
It ordered the petitioners to pay the fine of N50, 000 to each of the respondents.
Reacting, Governor Lalong said the “victory is for the people of the state; they have given a mandate and it was protected and upheld by the tribunal.”
Lalong, who spoke through his deputy chief of staff, Barrister Yusuf Gambo Hawaja, said with the judgement his administration would now focus more on fulfilling his campaign promises, and urged the people to celebrate in accordance with the law.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the governor for his victory at the polls and tribunal.
State chairman of the party, Raymond Dabo, gave the facilitation yesterday soon after the verdict.
According to him, “we now congratulating him because he has won in the tribunal; we did not do that before now because we were challenging his victory.”
“We will make consultation with our lawyers after our executive meeting to know wither we are to appeal,” he said.
He encouraged all NGOs, INGOs and stakeholders intervening in the North-east to avail themselves of the opportunity provided at the forth coming stakeholders forum, themed: “Coordination, Communication and Cooperation”; thereby fostering the federal government’s drive towards peace and rapid redevelopment of the North-east.
