TRIBUNAL SACKS ALL ELECTED PDP CANDIDATES AS LALONG WINS IN PLATEAU

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Napoleon Bali, a senator for the Plateau South senatorial district, and Peter Gyendeng, a member of the House of Representatives for the Barikin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency, have been removed from office by an electoral petition tribunal in Jos.

The tribunal subsequently recognized Simon Lalong, the state’s most recent governor and a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the senator for the Plateau South district who had been duly elected.

The Barikin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency’s representative, Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party (LP), was also recognised by the tribunal as having been duly elected.

Messrs. Lalong and Dalyop were named the runners-up in their respective elections held on February 25 by the electoral body, INEC.

Due to the PDP’s lack of a legitimate party organisation and inability to field candidates for the elections, the APC and LP candidates both sought the tribunal to annul the election of Mr. Bali (PDP) and Mr. Gyendeng (PDP).

They also noted that, at the time the election was held, INEC did not follow the new Electoral Act and regulations.

Because the PDP disobeyed a Jos High Court order to hold ward congresses prior to the most recent general elections, Omaka Elekwo (for the Senate election) and Muhammad Tukur (for the Reps election) invalidated the election of the two PDP candidates in their respective court rulings.

The judges added that all of the votes cast for the PDP candidates were illegitimate and that the evidence put up by the APC and LP candidates was pertinent and admissible.

The tribunal’s decision is expected to be appealed, and the ousted legislators will continue to serve in office until the appeals are resolved.

Despite Monday’s decision, Mr. Lalong is now a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and is anticipated to stay in that position.