The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong has reacted to his declaration as the winner of the Plateau South Senatorial election by the appeal court.

The Minister who revealed he is currently out of the country described the development as fantastic news, adding that it is a win for democracy and the people.

Naija News recalls the tribunal victory of Lalong as the Senator representing Plateau South was affirmed by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The three-man panel of the Appeal Court led by Justice Williams Daudu affirmed the decision of the Tribunal regarding the outcome of the election.

Recall the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Senator Napoleon Bali of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the original poll.

But the National Assembly and State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos had on September 11, declared Lalong who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Senator-elect representing Plateau South, and sacked Bali based on irregularities in the PDP primaries that produced him.

The Tribunal had cited faulted PDP’s failure to obey a Jos High Court order which directed the party to mandatorily conduct ward congresses as the reason for ruling in favour of Lalong and APC which filed a petition against the election outcome.

The decision of the Tribunal was affirmed on Tuesday by the Appeal Court.

Reacting to the court judgement, Lalong took to his account on the X platform on Tuesday evening where he wrote: “Just received fantastic news in Geneva! The Court of Appeal confirms my position as Senator for Plateau South Senatorial District. ? A win for democracy, unity, and the people. Let’s work together to bring progress and the #RenewedHopeAgenda to our community and nation.”