In a notable development, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Bako Lalong, is poised to step down from President Bola Tinubu’s administration shortly after his recent appointment.
This move became evident on Thursday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) awarded Lalong a Certificate of Return, affirming his victory in the Plateau South senatorial election following a Court of Appeal ruling.
Reliable sources indicate that Lalong carefully considered his options and has chosen to leave the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to assume the role of an elected Senator representing Plateau South in the 10th Senate.
Recall that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal invalidated the participation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its senatorial candidate, Napoleon Bali, in the February 25 National Assembly elections for Plateau South Senatorial District. The court cited the party’s failure to comply with a lawful court order.
In her judgment, Justice Elfreda Williams-Dawodu declared the votes cast for PDP as unlawful, declaring Simon Lalong, the immediate-past governor of Plateau State and APC candidate, as the rightful winner of the Plateau South Senatorial District election. The court emphasized the PDP’s lack of legal standing due to its non-compliance with the judgment of a Plateau High Court regarding lawful congresses.
