HEADLINE
Tribunal declares Lalong winner of Plateau South Senatorial election
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos has declared the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Simon Lalong, as the winner of Plateau South Senatorial zone.
The tribunal which gave it’s judgment on Monday voided the votes garnered by Napoleon Bali in the last Senatorial election and declared them wasted.
According to the tribunal, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had no valid structure in Plateau State at the time of Bali’s nomination as the candidate for the party in the election.
Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress in Plateau State has congratulated the Minister of Labour and Productivity , Mr. Simon Lalong over his victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.
The APC in a statement signed by its
State Publicity Secretary, Hon Slyvanus Namang said the Tribunal based its ruling mainly on Ground One of the former Governor’s Petition that the Plateau State PDP ought not to have participated in the last General Elections as it did not have the legal structure to have validly nominated and fielded candidates for the National elections due to its disobedience of Court Orders especially the Justice S. P Gang of Plateau State High Court’s unassailable judgment and directive to the party to conduct a Congress to constitute a legally binding party Executive Committee which it bluntly refused to do so since 2020.
It pointed out that the judgement was illuminating and put to rest the controversy that PDP has no legally constituted Exco.
“We also want to applaud justices O. Elekwa and O. A. Adetujoye who also concurred with the lead judgement. The judgment, we believe is a clear roadmap to better days ahead for the APC in the state in the remaining Plateau Tribunal judgments”.
Lalong has also dedicated his victory at the Senatorial Election Petition tribunal sitting in Jos to God and the people of Plateau South Senatorial District.
Lalong who received the good news of the tribunal’s judgement while presiding over an official function at the Ministry of Labour and Employment Abuja on Monday, said the decision of the tribunal nullifying the earlier declaration of his opponent and making him the winner is victory for democracy and justice.
He commended the tribunal for painstakingly scrutinising his arguments and presentations of his party the APC which culminated in him being declared the duly elected Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District.
The Labour Minister praised his supporters and, leadership and members of the APC in Plateau State for remaining steadfast and remaining calm while awaiting the verdict of the tribunal.
He urged them to continue to maintain peace as they celebrate, even if his opponent decides to appeal the judgement, which is his constitutionally guaranteed right.