Lalong defeats Jerry Useni to win second term as Plateau governor

Playeau State Governor Simon Lalong

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has been declared winner of the re-run Plateau State governorship election held on Saturday.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Professor Richard Kimbir, announced Lalong’s re-election for a second term on Sunday at the collation centre in Jos, the state capital.

According to Kimbir, Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a total of 595,582 votes ahead of his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jerry Useni, who polled 546,813 votes.

A re-run governorship election was called in Plateau after the initial exercise held on March 9 was declared inconclusive.

Professor Kimbir had explained that the declaration was as a result of the margin of a lead of 44,929 between the APC and the PDP candidates, which was less than the 49,377 cancelled votes.

This led to the supplementary election which held in nine local government areas of the state on Saturday.

Governor Lalong defeated Useni with a difference of 48,769 votes in the rerun poll.