Appeal Court Sacks PDP Senator, Declares Lalong Winner

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday upheld the judgment of the tribunal which declared the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong the winner of the Plateau South Senatorial election, the Punch Newspaper is reporting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party winner of the election with 148,844 votes, while Lalong scored 91, 674 to come second in the February 25 elections.

But Lalong asked the tribunal to nullify Bali’s election on the grounds that the PDP did not have a proper party structure and, therefore, could not file candidates for the elections.

In a ruling delivered on September 11, the three-member panel headed by Justice Muhammad Tukur declared the minister as the winner of the election in Plateau South.

It held that the votes garnered by the PDP candidate in the election were wasted votes.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, Bali approached the tribunal to set it aside.

READ ALSO: Baruwa To Lalong: Nurutw Crisis: You Are Endangering Our Peace Process, Quit Endorsing Lawlessness

In Tuesday’s proceeding, the three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu affirmed the tribunal’s verdict.

Justice William-Dawodu, who read the lead judgement, faulted the PDP for refusing to obey subsisting court orders on new congress in the state.

She said: “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.”