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Tag: Lalong

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds elections of Bala Mohammed, Lalong as governors

    BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds elections of Bala Mohammed, Lalong as governors

    The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Bauchi State.

    A seven-man panel of the court was unanimous in holding that the appellants, Mohammed Abubakar and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to prove their case.
    Justice Dattijo Mohammed, who read the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    The Supreme Court also upheld the election of Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of Plateau State.

    A seven-man panel of the court was unanimous in holding that the appellants, Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his party failed to prove their case.

    Justice Palu Galumje, who read the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    Justice Galumje also dismissed the appeal filed by Lalong on the grounds that having dismissed the appeal by Useni, the other appeal had become academic.

    Developing story…

  • Lalong speaks on kidnap of aid worker from Plateau, Jennifer Samuel

    Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, has assured that his administration was working with the federal government and security agencies to secure the release of the Miss Jennifer Samuel.

    Lalong gave the assurance in a statement on Thursday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dan Manjang.

    Jennifer, an aid worker, hailed from the Plateau State.

    The captive, who works with Alliance for International Medical Action, a humanitarian organisation in the North-East, and others were abducted in Borno by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    The governor stated that his government would not rest until Miss Jennifer Samuel and her colleagues were released.

    “The Rescue Administration is interested in the welfare of Plateau citizens anywhere in the world.

    “Channels of communication have been opened with relevant authorities to secure the release of not only Miss Jennifer Samuel but also other citizens in the captivity of the terrorists,” he said.

    Lalong encouraged the family of Jennifer to remain prayerful and hopeful as nothing was being left to chance to secure her freedom.

    In his reaction, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday condemned the recent killings and abductions in the country and expressed solidarity with the Nigerian government and citizens.

     

  • Lalong condoles Yahaya Bello over sister’s demise

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has condoled with Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi over the death of his elder sister, Hajia Rabiat Bello.
    Lalong in a condolence message by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Simon Macham, described the death of Hajia Rabiat as a great loss to the Bello family and the entire people of Kogi.
    He said that the deceased would be greatly missed considering how she touched many lives through her personal efforts.
    He encouraged Gov. Bello in particular to accept the death of his beloved sister as the will of God.
    The governor urged him to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a fulfilled life in which she positively touched many who came across her.
    While praying for the repose of the soul of the late Hajia Rabiat, Lalong urged the family to ensure that the good name and legacies she left behind continued to inspire others to live purposefully.

  • Tribunal upholds Lalong’s election as Plateau governor

    The Plateau Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Jos on Wednesday affirmed the election of Gov. Simon Lalong.
    Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Lalong in the March 9, governorship poll.
    Useni prayed the tribunal to declare him winer of the elections alleging the disparity in the names supplied by Gov. Lalong in form CF001.
    Delivering judgment, a panel three justices led by Justice Halima Salami, held that the petitioners could did not adequately prove their case.
    The tribunal held that the information made in form CF001 by Lalong bothering on the disparity of name, was not fundamental in nature.

    The tribunal also held that the petitioners, failed to prove their allegation of electoral irregularities bothering on falsifications of results and over voting against Lalong and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    Speaking after judgment, Mr Pius Akuboh, SAN, Counsel to the APC and Gov Lalong, commended the tribunal for the verdict.
    Akuboh said that the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised raised and canvassed by the parties from all angles.
    “This include the qualification of the second respondent to contest the election, allegation of over voting, corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral law.

    “Painstakingly the tribunal considered interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the parties.
    “We are satisfied that the judgment is in our favour specifically with respect to the qualification of the governor.
    “The tribunal unequivocally found as a fact that the governor did not give false information fundamental nature in aid of of his qualification,” he stated.
    Also speaking, Mr Edward Pwajok, SAN, Counsel to Useni and the PDP, said that they were not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.
    ”There are many bus stops in judiciary and that we will challenge the verdict in a higher court.
    “The tribunal has done its work but it is long journey, today’s verdict is just a first step.
    “However, we appreciate the people of Plateau and to state that the first petitioner, Sen. J.T. Useni remains confident in the Nigerian judiciary.
    “Thank God there are higher levels as the judgement itself has already formulate many grounds for appeal.
    “Because some of the findings were not in sink with the conclusion reached.
    “For instance, on the issue of the qualification of the governor, the tribunal found out that the lied on oath on the information he supplied in form CF00,” he stated.

  • Plateau to close IDP camps by year end – Lalong

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Monday assured that all the IDP camps in this state will be vacated by the end of the year.

    The governor said that his administration decided to handle the issue of IDPs in three phases and so far, the first two phases have been concluded.

    He said that he is working on the third and final phase of total resettlement.

    Lalong noted that his administration started by considering the security of the displaced persons who may be frightened of returning to the place that they were first displaced.

    He said that he is working fervently to return peace and security to communities in the state.

    The Governor spoke in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.

    He said, “I set up a road map since last year and appointed a committee to quickly see to the return of all IDPs to their various communities, we started in phases, we did phase one and two.

    “For those whose houses where not totally destroyed we handled it and asked them to return, that reduced a lot of the population in the camps, for the second phase many of them requested to rebuild themselves and brought a budget for the purchase of materials, we provided for them and some went back and rebuilt.

    “The most important thing in situations like this is to first of all consider their security, it is not easy for one who has seen what they did to rush back which is what we are trying to handle, we are in the process of providing a mobile police unit in some areas, I am in touch with the Inspection General of Police and very soon it will kick off.

    “Some of you saw me when we were trying to address the security situation and addressed the national livestock policy, the policy is inclusive of security and how to help those fighting. I have assured them at my state that by the end of this year that is my hope that nobody will be in IDP camp in Plateau state.”

    Dame Tallen urged the governor to be the first to take the issue of gender equality seriously by appointing more female commissioners and special advisers.

    Her words, “We will work together as a team to take Plateau to the next level, I want to commend your good works in the Plateau particularly in the area of security which is top in the federal agenda, you have done well in ensuring peace on the Plateau.

    “Your state is doing well in the area of the girl child education but we are pleading with you to do more because educating the girl child solves a lot of problems, I plead with you to take the issue of gender equality seriously, I appeal to you to be the leading state in the appointment large number of females as commissioners and special advisers so that I can boast and tell the other governors that my state is leading.”

  • Buhari shocked over non-payment of allowances to Super Eagles – Lalong

    Buhari shocked over non-payment of allowances to Super Eagles – Lalong

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong on Monday disclosed President Muhammadu Buhari was shocked by the alleged non-payment of allowances to the Super Eagles players in the ongoing African Cup of Nations football competition in Egypt.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, Buhari had approved the allowances before commencement of the tournament.

    He said: “I came to see the President on behalf my state and on behalf of the 19 northern states as chairman of Northern governors’ forum.

    “I came in to have a discussion with Mr. President, of course many of you know that I just came back from Egypt where we went to cheer our Super Eagles and I also brought him the concerns of our players over there and he promised to handle the matter immediately.

    “Because football is a unifying factor in Nigeria and we shouldn’t joke with it if they bring back the cup it will cement our relationship and that is one of it.”

    On the concerns of the Super Eagles, he said: “Well, many of the concerns raised were that their allowances were not paid and Mr President expressed surprise that he signed these allowances and wondered why they are not paid to them.

    ‘I was a footballer, it’s not like before when you play football out of patriotism, now it’s combined with the economic aspect.

    “When you bring people, definitely from the ministry, you must ensure that their allowances are paid.

    “We went there for the joy of it and the day we were there they won their match but when we left yesterday, I understand they lost to Madagascar.

    “Defeating Guinea and allowing Madagascar to defeat us is a surprise, but I think with good motivation, these boys would bring back the cup.” he added

  • Supplementary poll: PDP candidate, Useni heads to court as INEC declares Lalong re-elected in Plateau

    Sen. Jeremiah Useni, gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau has vowed to challenge the re-election of Gov Simon Lalong for another term.

    Lalong was on Sunday declared winner of the governorship seat after the supplementary election on March 23.

    Lalong, candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 595,582 votes against Sen. Useni of PDP who got 546,813 votes.

    But Useni said that he and his team had gone through both the official results released by INEC and the documents submitted by the party’s field staff and had reservations.

    “We have every reason to believe that justice has not been done to our people in this election because there was massive rigging and electoral shortcomings.

    “After due consultation, I hereby state that the results announced by INEC is 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,” he said.

    The PDP flag bearer expressed appreciation to the people of Plateau for their massive support to him and the party in their preference for good governance.

    Useni said that they did this, in spite of all manner of challenges.

    He added that their determination was a clear testimony of their desire to get rid of a non-performing administration that had long turned its back against their welfare and security.

    “I assure you that such massive support will not go in vain,” he said.

    “I appeal to all of us to unite all the more now and avoid any bickering and blame-giving.

    “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,” he said.

  • Supplementary Polls: How Ortom, Lalong, Ganduje, Tambuwal scaled through hurdles of reelection

    Supplementary Polls: How Ortom, Lalong, Ganduje, Tambuwal scaled through hurdles of reelection

    Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Umar Ganduje (Kano) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) have retained their seats after the collation of Saturday’s supplementary polls.

    But their challengers – Emmanuel Jime (Benue), Jeremiah Useni (Plateau), Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and Abba Yusuf (Kano), have rejected the results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the close of the second ballot yesterday.

    They plan to seek judicial redress.

    Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 434,473 to defeat his All Progressives Congress (APC) challenger Jime, who scored 345,155; incumbent Plateau helmsman and APC candidate Lalong beat his PDP challenger Useni and Tambuwal of the PDP scored 512, 002 to beat APC’s Sokoto, who polled 511,660.

    The INEC had declared elections inconclusive in six states as there were no clear winners on the first ballot on March 9.

    The states are: Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto. The commission fixed March 23 for makeup polls but a court barred the electoral umpire from going ahead in Adamawa and in Bauchi’s Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

    An Abuja Federal Court will today rule on INEC’s application to vacate an ex parte order barring it from conducting supplementary poll in Tafawa Belewa Council Area.

    Also tomorrow in Adamawa, a High Court will rule in an objection suit filed INEC against order obtained by Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD) governorship candidate Rev. Eric Theman, challenging the exclusion of his name of the ballot paper.

    Tambuwal, was returned after a keen contest with a lead margin of 342 votes.

    In the earlier results before the makeup poll, Tambuwal had 489,558 votes, leading with 3,413 as against APC’s Sokoto’s 486,145.

    Declaring the results in Sokoto yesterday at the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Institute for Quranic and General Studies, venue of the collation, the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Jigawa State University, Dutse, Prof Fatima Batulli Mukhtar, said the APC got 25,515 and the PDP scored 22, 444 from the 22 local government areas where the makeup was conducted.

    According to Mukhtar, 50, 332 of the 95,022 registered voters were accredited. Those whose votes were valid were 48,309 and 1,580 were rejected.

    Merging the final results, the Returning Officer said the PDP scored 512,000; APC returned 511,660 votes with a total registered voters of 1,887,767 and 1,083,413 accredited for the exercise.

    Prof Mukhtar also gave the valid votes as 1,036,336 with 31,662 as rejected votes while 1,067,990 represented total votes cast.

    He said: “That Aminu Waziri Tambuwal having satisfied the electoral requirements and returned the highest votes is hereby declared winner of the Sokoto state governorship election.”

    In a swift reaction to the declaration, APC agent and campaign Director-General, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, objected to the presentation of the results from Kebbe Local Government Area on two issues – malfunctioning Smart Card Reader and non-conduct of the exercise in some polling units. He urged INEC to look into his observations.

    Maigari said: “We strongly object the result from Kebbe and call on the electoral umpire to do the needful.”

    The electoral body noted the observations and complaints raised by the APC, saying that it will be in its record for possible attention.

    PDP supporters and well-wishers took to the streets to celebrate the victory.

    BENUE

    After days of intense suspense, emotional and psychological torture among the Benue populace, INEC yesterday returned Ortom as winner of the supplementary governorship poll.

    The election was declared inconclusive because the number of votes cancelled in areas where elections were disrupted was more than the margin of lead by Ortom after the March 9 governorship election.

    State Collation Officer Prof. Sebastine Maimako, Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, announced Ortom as winner having satisfied the requirements stipulated in the Electoral Act and guidelines for the declaration of winner of the election.

    The final statistics as announced by Maimako showed that 858,947 of the 2,471,894 registered voters were accredited for the election.

    The valid votes were 830,954; rejected votes (15,268) and the valid votes were 846,222.

    PLATEAU

    The INEC declared Lalong as winner of the election.

    The governor was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, Prof Richard Anande Kimbir, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.

    Announcing the final results, Prof Kimbir said, Simon Lalong of the APC polled 595, 582 votes to beat Useni of the PDP, who scored 546, 813.

    “I hereby declare Simon Lalong of APC returned as governor of Plateau State, having polled the highest numbers of votes in the state’s governorship election,” the returning officer said.

    Results of the supplementary election held in nine local government areas, including Langtang South, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos North, Kanam, Mangu, shendam and Pankshin, showed that Lalong scored 12,327 new votes. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jeremiah Useni, earned 8,487.

    The result of the supplementary was, therefore, added to that of the main election before it was announced.

    BAUCHI

    In Bauchi State, the PDP candidate Senator Bala was leading incumbent Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the APC in the supplementary governorship election conducted in 36 Polling Units (PUs), covering 29 Registration Areas (Wards) in 15 local government areas.

    The makeup poll did not hold in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, owing to a court order.

    Mohammed garnered 6376 votes against Abubakar’s 5117 votes on Saturday. He was leading the incumbent with 1259 between both parties.

    The result was announced in Bauchi yesterday by the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, Vice Chancellor of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

    At the close of the ballot on March 9, Mohammed had 469,512 votes. Abubakar had 465,453. The 4059 lead margin prompted INEC to declare the poll inconclusive after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted the collation and announcement of results for the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

    Abubakar got a court injunction restraining INEC from continuing with the collation and announcement of election results. Judgment will be delivered today.

    The total votes scored so far by Mohammed in the 19 out of the 20 council areas has increased to 475,888. Abubakar’s stands at 470, 570 votes. The difference is 5,318 votes.

    The PDP yesterday urged the governor to concede defeat and work together with the party for the progress of the state.

    Speaking in a telephone interview, the PDP Chairman, Hamza Koshe Akuyam said the “right thing for the governor to do is to surrender in the face of an imminent defeat”.

    Mohammed has expressed gratitude to the people for their support.

    He said: “We owe our victory to the people of Bauchi who have stood very firm on the threshold of freedom and liberty and have shown that they are the icons of democracy and liberty. Words alone cannot express my appreciation to them all.”

    The former FCT minister addressed a news conference at the Command Guest House in Bauchi immediately the results of the election were announced.

    KANO

    Incumbent Governor Umar Ganduje of the APC was last night declared winner of the makeup governorship election Kano State.

    Declaring the winner of the poll, Collation Officer Prof. Bello Shehu said that after merging the final results, the APC candidate polled 1,033,695, while his challenger Abba Yusuf of the PDP scored 1,024,713 votes.

    He said that 2,268,305 of the 5,426,989 registered were accredited. The valid votes cast stood at 2,199,535 and 50,861 were rejected. Those who cast their ballot were 2,242,396.

    He added that the APC candidate defeated his opponent with 8,982 votes.

    According to Shehu, the winner was declared after the collation of results from all the 28 affected Local government areas where the supplementary elections held on Saturday.

    He said: “That Abdullahi Umar Ganduje having satisfied the requirement of the law, has scored the highest votes, is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”

    The collation officer said that the governorship election was earlier declared inconclusive following the high number of cancellation of votes as a result of violence and over voting.

    According to him, the total number of votes cancelled during March 9 election was more that the margin between the PDP candidate, who was leading with 26,000 votes and that of the APC candidate.

    Yusuf was earlier declared to have 1,014,474, against the APC candidate Gov Ganduje who garned 987,819 votes.

    The votes cancelled during the first ballot were 128,572 and the collation officer said the electoral act stipulates that such election must be declared inconclusive.

    The PDP agent, who is also the party chairman in the state, Suleiman Rabiu Bichi frowned at the conduct and rejected the entire supplementary election process, especially that of Gama in Nassarawa Local Government Area.

    His APC counterpart, Abdullahi Abbas, described the election as another landmark victory for the APC, adding that the era of politicking is over.

    “Our doors are wide open to embrace the PDP for a better governance”, the APC chair said,

  • JUST IN: INEC declares APC’s Simon Lalong winner of Plateau governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressive Congress (APC) the winner of the 2019 governorship election in Plateau State.

    Richard Kimbir, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, made the declaration on Sunday at the state INEC headquarters after concluding the supplementary election held on Saturday.

    Mr Lalong defeated Jeremiah Useni of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who came second in the election.

    The Plateau governorship election was, on March 11, declared inconclusive by the state returning officer, Mr Kimbir, a professor. He said the margin between the two leading candidates was less than the number of votes cancelled in the entire election.

    According to INEC, on March 11, Governor Lalong had scored 583,255 votes while Mr Useni scored 548,336 votes, highlighting that none of the leading candidates met all the requirements of the law to win the election.

    49,347 votes across 40 polling units were cancelled in nine Local Government Areas of the state.

    The affected LGAs where the rerun held include; Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos North, Kanam, Langtang South, Mangu, Pankshin, and Shendam.

    Announcing the final election results scored by each party, the returning officer said Mr Lalong of the APC scored 595,582 votes while Mr Useni of the PDP scored 546,813.

    “Simon Lalong of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” the returning said.

    The margin between the winner and the runner-up is 48,769 votes.

    The result of the election indicated that out of 17 LGAs of the state, Mr Lalong won in 11 while Mr Useni won in six.

    Sunday’s final result marks the second time Mr Lalong is defeating the PDP in the state. In 2015, he defeated the late Gyang Pwajok of the PDP to become the first governor from opposition to win governorship election in the state.

    PDP had governed the state for 16 years. Joshua Dariye, a senator who is currently in prison, had governed from 1999 to 2007 while Jonah Jang, governed from 2007 to 2015.

    The result by LGAs is as follows:

    Jos East
    APC: 18, 602
    PDP: 7, 994

    Kanke
    APC: 23, 360
    PDP: 22, 831

    Langtang North
    APC: 18, 979
    PDP: 40, 519

    Barkin Ladi
    APC: 17, 080
    PDP: 44, 529

    Bokkos
    APC: 27, 561
    PDP: 26 ,700

    Bassa
    APC: 30,441
    PDP: 33,192

    Langtang South
    APC: 14,470
    PDP: 18,868

    Pankshin
    APC: 36,215
    PDP: 24,939

    Mikang
    APC: 15, 150
    PDP: 11, 703

    Kanam
    APC: 55,338
    PDP: 22,432

    Jos South
    APC: 33, 475
    PDP: 91, 846

    Jos North
    APC: 109,161
    PDP: 68,149

    Wase
    APC: 37, 593
    PDP: 27, 485

    Mangu
    APC: 51, 895
    PDP: 43,555

    Riyom
    APC: 12, 720
    PDP: 24, 017

    Qua’an Pan
    APC: 31, 962
    PDP: 20, 939

    Shendam
    APC: 61, 798
    PDP: 17,115

    Total number of votes scored by each of the two leading parties

    APC – 595,582

    PDP – 546,813

  • Governor Lalong visits Ahmed Musa over mother’s death

    Governor Lalong visits Ahmed Musa over mother’s death

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong led the state executive members to the house of the Super Eagles assistant captain, Ahmed Musa to commiserate with him over the death of his mother, Serah Moses.

    The Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia winger lost his mother on Thursday. He announced her passing away via his twitter handle @Ahmedmusa718.

    According to Governor Lalong, who revealed this on his official Twitter handle @simonlalong, condoled with Musa and his family, while he prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest. He added that the loss of a mother is one of the greatest tragedies that can befall anyone.

    The governor personally presented a condolence letter to Musa.

    “The loss of a mother is one of the greatest tragedies that can befall anyone. As one who personally knows this pain, I condole with this national icon & beloved son of Jos, Super Eagles vice Captain @ Ahmedmusa718, over the death of his mother Sarah Moses. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.”