Tribunal sacks Plateau PDP’s senator, declares Tinubu’s minister winner

The National and State Petition Election Tribunal sitting in Jos has sacked the senator representing Plateau South, Napoleon Bali, and declared the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, as the winner of the February 25 election.

Lalong, the immediate past governor of Plateau State, was among the seven governors declared as losers of senatorial elections.

He was the Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation in the 2023 general election.

Bali, who was sacked by the tribunal on Monday, September 11, 2023, contested the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Lalong ran under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

READ ALSO: Mutfwang: Lalong left N307bn debt in Plateau

The tribunal also sacked Peter Gyendeng as member representing Barikin Ladi/ Riyom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and declared Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party (LP) who came second in the February 25 election in Plateau State, as winner.

In their separate rulings, Justice Omaka Elekwo and Justice Muhammad Tukur nullified the election of the two PDP candidates over the party’s refusal to respect the order of a Jos High court to conduct ward congresses before the 2023 general election.

The Justices said the evidence presented by the APC and LP candidates were relevant and admissible.

The Star