The Presidency on Monday confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has officially accepted the resignation of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong from his cabinet.
Recall that a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja affirmed the tribunal’s decision that pronounced the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, as the legitimate winner of the Plateau South Senatorial seat.
The appellate court in a ruling read by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, held that the matter was both a pre-and post-election matter.
Justice Williams-Dawodu added that the tribunal’s decision was correct on the matter.
Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party had been announced as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after scoring 148,844 votes to defeat Lalong who got 91,674 votes to finish second in the election.
But the tribunal, while deciding on a petition filed by Lalong, ruled that Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party did not have a valid right to participate in the election.
The panel ruled that Bali’s votes in the general elections on February 25, 2023, were void.
Bali approached the appeal court, asking the court to set aside the judgment.
The Appeal Court dismissed the petition affirmed the judgement of the Tribunal.
It held that the PDP was wrong not to have obeyed subsisting orders asking that a new congress should be conducted in the state.
“Section 287 of the Nigerian Constitution said all are expected to observe orders of the court. The order was in the realm. It is binding all persons. It is immutable and until it is set aside must be complied with.
“This issue is hereby resolved against the appellant. Invalidly nominated candidates cannot attract lawful votes. This appeal fails. The tribunal judgment is hereby affirmed,” Justice Williams-Dawodu said.
INEC had issued the Minister of Labour and Employment and Senator-elect for Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Lalong his certificate of return.
Meanwhile, a presidential aide has confirmed that Lalong tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu privately.
“Lalong has resigned. But it was not at the FEC meeting itself. It must have been after the meeting because, if it were earlier, the President or SGF would have announced it during the meeting,” a presidential Aide said.
