Gubernatorial Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State in the last election, Senator, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jeremiah Timbut Useni has given further insight into the judgement of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Wednesday October 2nd, 2019.

He told a delegation of PDP members of the National and Plateau State House of Assembly who visited him in Jos on Saturday that there were two things that amazed him, party faithful and the legal team.

“The first was how the tribunal interpreted the false information supplied by Simon Bako Lalong to INEC.

“And the second thing that puzzled us was how 21 of our witnesses were expunged from the records of the tribunal at this stage. The APC wanted the tribunal not to accept the testimonies of these witnesses. The Appeal Court supported them.”

“And when we went to the Supreme Court, they gave a judgement that supported the tribunal’s initial ruling which included the 21 witnesses. And we thought that the tribunal would be happy that the Supreme Court upheld their position. But the tribunal ignored the Supreme Court’s position and stuck to that of the Court of Appeal, saying that they never heard about the judgement of the Supreme Court.”

“We also wondered: What was the hurry in delivering a judgement immediately, just one day after the Independence holiday? Something was amiss. “

“But these things are just a test. I will pass my test. I will not fail this test. Within two weeks, we will file the appeal. And we will go even up to the Supreme Court. The war is not over yet. No soldier loses one battle and runs away. Our joy is only being delayed. It will not be denied. So, all of us should be encouraged.”

The delegation of Plateau PDP legislators from the National and Plateau House of Assembly was led by the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Barr. Istifanus D. Gyang.

He said he and his colleagues were in Useni’s residence on a solidarity visit. He described the tribunal judgement as a “rude shock.”

“As members of the state and National Assembly, we assure you that we are fully with you because this mandate is our collective mandate, this mandate was our collective effort, the mandate was freely given and we will pursue it through the judicial and legal process until it is recovered.”

“What we witnessed at the Tribunal was just a temporary setback but not the end of the matter. Your resolve is our resolve, your persuasion in this matter is our persuasion and our stand here is for all our constituents that we represent.”

Gen Useni was in company of his Running Mate, Dr James Dalok, and Director-General of his Campaign Organisation, Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia. Among the legislators with Senator Gyang were Hon. Solomon Maren, Hon Simon Mwadkon and Hon Dachung Musa Bagos – all of the House of Representatives, as well their counterparts in the State House of Assembly – Hon Peter Gyengdeng, Hon Esther Dusu, Hon. Timothy Dantong, Hon Musa Agah Avia and many former commissioners and members of the state assembly.

Yiljap Abraham

Media Consultant to
Senator, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jeremiah Timbut Useni, DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR.
October 6, 2019

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WHAT PUZZLED US ABOUT THE TRIBUNAL JUDGEMENT – Sen. JT Useni