Lalong was pronounced the duly elected senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District after his opponent was sacked
By Kehinde Okeowo
All Progressives Party (APC) chieftain and Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has hailed the judgement of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the tribunal on Monday, declared Lalong as the senator duly elected to represent Plateau South Senatorial District.
According to the judges, the votes scored by Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, general elections were wasted votes as he was invalidly nominated by the PDP.
The Tribunal held that at the time of the nomination, the PDP had no valid structure in Plateau State.
Reacting to the development, the immediate past governor of the state, said he cannot contain his joy over the development.
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In a statement on his official X platform, the recently inaugurated Minister extended his appreciation to the tribunal, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and his supporters for their dedication.
The statement reads, “I can’t contain my joy after the recent victory at the Senatorial Election Petition tribunal here in Jos.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to God and the incredible people of Plateau South Senatorial District for their unwavering support. It is a Monday I’ll never forget.
“I was in Abuja, presiding over an official function at the Ministry of Labour and Employment when I received the news of the tribunal’s decision.
“The ruling nullifying my opponent’s earlier declaration and declaring me the rightful winner filled me with immense satisfaction.
“To me, this victory signifies a triumph for democracy and justice. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the tribunal members for their meticulous examination of our arguments and the presentations made by my party, the APC.
“Their dedication to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency has not gone unnoticed.
“I must also commend my loyal supporters and the dedicated members of the APC in Plateau State. Throughout this process, they remained steadfast and displayed remarkable calmness while awaiting the tribunal’s verdict.
“Their unwavering support has been a source of strength for me. As we celebrate this victory, I urge everyone to maintain peace and unity. Even if my opponent decides to exercise his constitutionally guaranteed right to appeal the judgement, let us continue to uphold the values of democracy and respect for the rule of law.”