By Shittu Bamaiyi
The immediate past governor of Plateau state and the present minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong of the APC, has been declared as the duly elected Senator, representing Plateau South Senatorial zone.
In about four hour judgement, on a petition filed by the former governor, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos today, held that having come second in the senatorial election, Lalong is the lawful winner,based on the fact that the PDP in Plateau State was not supposed to have participated in the national elections.*
The tribunal held that the PDP having failed to respect Court orders in respect of conducting congress , the Party had no right to have participated in the elections.
According to the tribunal, all the votes scored by the PDP during the senatorial election were wasted and as such, directed INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali retired of the PDP, and give it to Lalong.
The tribunal further held that the PDP having no structure lacked the right to have taken part in the election.
Detail shortly...