Lalong Declared Plateau South Senator As Appeal Court Dismisses PDP’s Petition

The tribunal victory of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong as the Senator representing Plateau South has been affirmed by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The three-man panel of the Appeal Court led by Justice Williams Daudu affirmed the decision of the Tribunal regarding the outcome of the election.

Naija News recalls the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Senator Napoleon Bali of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the original poll.

But the National Assembly and State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos had on September 11, declared Lalong who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Senator-elect representing Plateau South, and sacked Bali based on irregularities in the PDP primaries that produced him.

The Tribunal had cited faulted PDP’s failure to obey a Jos High Court order which directed the party to mandatorily conduct ward congresses as the reason for ruling in favour of Lalong and APC which filed a petition against the election outcome.

The decision of the Tribunal was affirmed on Tuesday by the Appeal Court.

The Appellate Court held that the 1999 Constitution states that all authorities and persons are expected to comply with orders and judgements of a court but the PDP failed to hold a valid congress.

“This appeal is hereby dismissed. The judgement of the Tribunal is hereby affirmed,” Justice Williams held.

Note that President Bola Tinubu has also appointed Lalong as Minister and the former Governor has since resumed duties.