Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong has left President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, it was learnt at the weekend.
The most recent governor of Plateau State, Lalong, has chosen to accept the Senate seat for Plateau South he claimed through the court.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is scheduled to swear him in this week, sources said last night
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Lalong, the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organization, a loser in the February general election.
He appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeal granted him victory.
Ahead the next FEC meeting on Wednesday, Lalong, a lawyer and two-term Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, submitted his resignation.
“President Tinubu has accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong’s resignation from the cabinet,” tweeted presidential aide Imran Muhammad last night on his X handle.
The spokesman for APC in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang also confirmed Lalong’s resignation from the FEC.
Lalong obtained his Certificate of Return last month as a result of Air Vice Marshall Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, losing his election and leaving his seat vacant, the Court of Appeal directed the electoral commission to grant him the certificate of return.
Lalong’s wife, Regina, and kids escorted him to the INEC Headquarters along with former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, member representing QuanPan, Shendam, Mikang Federal Constituency John Dafaan, APC Deputy National Secretary Festus Fuanter, Joe Bukar, the minority leader of the Plateau House of Assembly, and a few Assembly members; former Majority Leader Naalong; a few former Plateau Commissioners; former Head of Service Sunday Hyat, a few serving local government chairmen, and other supporters.
Additionally, the President and the other party leaders held consultations with Lalong after he received the certificate of return.
Lalong, a devoted party member, consented to return to the Senate as a sacrifice, according to a party source.
Party leaders also think that since he will enjoy the informal status of a ranking senator, his background as the Speaker of the House of Assembly for two terms will be useful.
Furthermore, according to the source, the APC was favoring avoiding the inevitable supplementary senatorial election that Lalong’s resignation from the Senate would bring about.
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