EXCLUSIVE: Former Plateau Governor, Lalong to be sworn in as senator tomorrow

Former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong will be sworn in as the Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 20, 2023, WesternPost has gathered.

Lalong resigned his appointment as Minister of Labour and Employment last week in preparation for his swearing in.

The former governor who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost to Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In tthe results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bali scored 148,844 votes, while Lalong placed second with 91,674 votes.

He however challenged Bali’s victory at the tribunal on the ground that the PDP did not have a proper party structure and, therefore, could not file candidates for the elections.

The Election Petition Tribunal in its judgment, agreed with Lalong that the PDP, having no structure could not have presented candidates for the election and held that the votes scored by Bali during the election were wasted.

Bali hhowever challenged the ruling of the tribunal, filing an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal in its ruling on November 7 however upheld the ruling of the tribunal.

The three-man panel of the Appeal Court led by Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, held that the matter was both a pre and post-election matter, adding that the tribunal made the correct call.

She held that the PDP was wrong not to have obeyed subsisting orders asking that a new congress should be conducted in the state.

“Section 287 of the Nigerian Constitution said all are expected to observe orders of the court. The order was in the realm. It is binding all persons. It is immutable and until it is set aside and must be complied with.

“This issue is hereby resolved against the appellant. Invalidly nominated candidates cannot attract lawful votes. This appeal fails. The tribunal judgment is hereby affirmed,” she held.