Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has been affirmed by the Appeal Court in Abuja on Tuesday as the senator-elect for Plateau South.
Recall that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senator Napoleon Bali was proclaimed the election’s victor by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
However, on September 11, the National Assembly and State Election Petitions Tribunal convening in Jos proclaimed Simon Lalong as the incoming senator for Plateau South and dismissed Napoleon Bali of the People’s Democratic Party for becoming victorious from a rigged primary election.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, as a labor minister prior to the election triumph at the Tribunal.
Napoleon was fired by the Tribunal because the PDP disregarded a ruling from the Jos High Court for the organization to hold ward congresses.
The PDP primary poll, according to the All Progressives Congress, whose agenda Lalong opposed, was faulty.
Lalong senator was confirmed by the tribunal after it reached a consensus with the APC legal team.
Since then, Lalong had started working as a minister in Abuja.
However, the PDP candidate filed an appeal with the higher court.
The three-member court panel, presided over by Justice Williams Daudu, declared the lower Tribunal’s conclusions to be in order on Tuesday.
The judge ruled that although the PDP was unable to organize a legitimate congress, the 1999 Constitution requires all authorities and individuals to abide by court decisions and judgments.
“The sole issue is resolved against the appellant.
“This appeal is hereby dismissed. The judgement of the Tribunal is hereby affirmed,” Justice Williams held.