After being named the victor of the Plateau South senatorial district, Simon Lalong, the former governor of Plateau State and current minister of labour and employment in Nigeria, broke his silence.
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Jos, Plateau State, handed down the ruling.
Recall that Lalong was one of the top politicians that lost the nationwide senate elections held on February 25.
Lalong, however, was compensated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by being added to his list of nominees for ministerial appointments to be reviewed by the Nigerian Senate.
The former governor was subsequently interviewed and appointed Nigeria’s new Minister of Labour and Employment.
However, on Monday, the tribunal threw down Napoleon Bali’s victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to an improper nomination.
The three-member panel’s chairman, Justice Mahmoud Tukur, who delivered the ruling, claimed that the PDP candidate’s votes from the election of February 25 were squandered because the party did not have a legitimate structure in the state at the time of the nomination.
Lalong expressed his elation with the development in his response to it.
The Minister expressed his gratitude for the tribunal, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and his supporters in a statement made public on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“I can’t contain my happiness after the recent victory at the Senatorial Election Petition tribunal here in Jos,” the message continues.
“I’d want to thank God and the amazing people of the Plateau South Senatorial District for their persistent support. That Monday will always be in my memory.
“When I learned of the tribunal’s ruling, I was in Abuja, Nigeria, presiding over an official event at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“I was ecstatic when the decision was made to throw out my opponent’s earlier claim and declare me the legitimate winner.
“This victory represents a win for democracy and justice in my opinion. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the tribunal members for their careful consideration of our points of contention and the APC’s presentations.
“Their commitment to maintaining the values of justice and openness has not gone ignored.
“I must also laud my devoted followers and the hardworking APC members in Plateau State. As they awaited the tribunal’s decision, they maintained their resolve and demonstrated incredible composure.
“I have found strength in their continuous support. As we rejoice in this triumph, I call on everyone to uphold harmony and peace. Let’s continue to preserve democracy and the rule of law even if my opponent decides to exercise his constitutionally protected right to appeal the ruling.
However, it is still unknown whether the minister will step down from his job and join the National Assembly’s upper house of MPs.
