Tribunal Declares Lalong Winner of Plateau South Senate Seat

•Also sacks Gyendeng, confirms Dalyop for House of Reps

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A former governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has been  declared winner of the February 25 Plateau South Senatorial District election.

Lalong, who was Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign, was among the seven governors that lost their senatorial bids in the election.

On Monday,  the National and State Petition Election Tribunal sitting in Jos sacked the senator representing Plateau South, Napoleon Bali, and declared Lalong winner.

Bali contested the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Lalong ran under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The tribunal also sacked Peter Gyendeng as member representing Barikin Ladi/ Riyom federal constituency of the House of Representatives and declared Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party (LP), who came second in the February 25 general election winner.

In their separate rulings, Justice Omaka Elekwo and Justice Muhammad Tukur nullified the election of the two PDP candidates because of the party’s refusal to respect the order of a Jos High court to conduct ward congresses before the last general election.

The justices, therefore, said the evidence presented by the APC and LP candidates were relevant and admissible.