Lalong defeats Useni to retain seat as Plateau governor + results

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the rerun election in the North-Central state.
Lalong gathered 595,582 votes to win, with his closest rival, Jeremiah Useni, a retired Army General who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), polling 546,813 votes.
Prof Richard Kimbir, the Returning Officer, presented the result on Sunday in Jos on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State.
“The valid votes totalled 1,159,954, with the rejected votes standing at 16,188, while the total votes cast was 1,176,142,” he said.
The margin of victory between Lalong of APC and Useni of the PDP is 48,769 votes.
The election held on March 9 in Plateau had been declared inconclusive.
This had led to a rerun election in 40 polling units in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Lalong, after his victory, sought the support of Plateau people to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.
“I am humble, I was voted again to serve Plateau for another tenure to move it to greater heights . We need unity and peace to move this state to the next level.
“Core values of team spirit, mutual respect and tolerance are required for sustainable peace and a good working relationship in the state and I promise to discharge my duties diligently and selflessly , “he said.
Lalong commended INEC, security agencies, the media and voters for the peaceful and successful rerun elections in the State, saying it was one of the most peaceful nationwide.
Below are the results from Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state announced by Prof Richard Kimbir, the Returning Officer.
Bokkos LGA:
Total number of registered voters in four polling units where elections were held are 5,314, while 2,784 are accredited voters.
The results indicate that the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 1,342 votes and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 1,337.
Mangu LGA:
A total of 27,162 voters were registered in Mangu Ward 1, with 10, 670 accredited.
The APC scored 6,931 while the PDP polled 3,520.