Lalong Urges Restraint Over Court Verdict On Plateau Election

All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Plateau State and senator representing Plateau South district, Simon Bako Lalong, has urged party members to accept the Supreme Court’s judgement on the governorship election in the state.

The former governor and minister, who addressed stakeholders at the party’s state headquarters, Kalwa House, in Jos, the state capital, said the APC remains strong, united and dominant in the state despite the recent setback.
He said the apex court which has the final say on the outcome of the election has given its verdict and as strong democrats who believe in the rule of law, APC must accept it and restrain its members from castigating the Judiciary or making inflammatory comments in the interest of peace and stability.
Lalong said it was unfortunate that some people engaged in overdrive analysis of the court verdict without seeing a certified true copy of the judgement to be properly guided.
He said the APC has applied for the certified copy of the judgement in order to properly digest and see how it can work to enhance its fortunes in future elections. The judgement, according to him, is yet to be released to the party.

The former governor however clarified the misconception that APC took a pre-election matter to court which was entertained by the High Court, Election tribunals and Appeal court.
He said “APC was never a party to the case between Hon. Kaze Vs PDP or the one between PDP Vs PLASIEC which went up to the Supreme Court and was dismissed against PDP. I want you to know that APC merely used the judgement given against the PDP to file its petition as a post election matter as provided by law. ”

According to him “If you recall, the same issue was raised in Tinubu and Atiku where the tribunal decided that when there is a judgement against a party before an election, any other party can use it as a post-election matter to contest the verdict of an election”.
Lalong said the judgement which said PDP did not have structure in Plateau State was given in 2021 when the High Court had the jurisdiction to entertain party matters.
He said it stopped them from contesting in local government elections and also nullified Hon. Musa Agah’s victory.

“I want people including my learned colleagues and the media to wait for the Supreme Court certified judgement before they conclude on the matter.”

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The former Labour and Employment minister thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support to the party and urged the party members to go all out and secure victory in the Saturday rerun elections for Plateau North Senatorial seat and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.

While welcoming the APC stakeholders to the meeting, State Chairman Hon. Rufus Bature said the party remains strong and will have to come to terms with the current situation with a view to coming out strong.

He assured the party faithful that the 15 House of Assembly members will be sworn in as there is no court order barring their inauguration as it is being peddled.

He also charged them to work hard for the victory of the party in the forthcoming rerun elections for Plateau North Senate and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.

The meeting thereafter went into a closed door session.

The meeting has in attendance the APC Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshewe and his running mate Hon. Pam Bot-Mang, former Governor Prof. Sonni Tyoden, APC Deputy National Secretary Hon. Festus Fuanter, Member Representing QuanPan/Mikang/Shendam Federal Constituency Chief John Dafaan, former Speaker Hon. Yakubu Sanda among others.