Former Plateau Speaker wins re-run

Isaac Shobayo, Jos - 08.06.2009

Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Go’ar, whose election was nullified by the state election petition tribunal, has won the rerun.

It will be recalled that Go’ar election was nullified this year and the decision was consequently upheld by the Appeal Court sitting in Jos following a petition against his victory at the poll in 2007 election by a candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP)on the ground of missing logo on the ballot papers used for the election.

Before the judgement which ordered for rerun, Hon. Goar was impeached as the speaker of the state House of Assembly. In the rerun held on Saturday, Honourable Go’ar defeated his close rival, Mr. Tongshaka Gotom of Labour Party (LP), with a wide margin to represent Pankshin North in the state House of Assembly.

The rerun was subject of many variables and interest as different contending forces within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State teamed up with different candidates that contested the election to prove their political prowess.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the state governor, Jonah Jang, supported Go’ar candidature while a faction of the party in the state, led by Chief Joseph Mangni and former Governor Joshua Dariye, supported the candidate of the LP.

According to the result announced by the returning officer, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, Go’ar polled a total of 21,041 to beat Gotom, who polled 6,159 votes.