The Plateau State Southern Youths have petitioned Simon Lalong, former governor of the state and current Minister of Labour and Employment, for what they call serious misconduct in withholding two political seats destined for the state.
The group claimed that since the “jungle justice” granted by the Appeal Court, which sacked Senator Napoleon Bali, the Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone has had no voice in the National Assembly’s Senate.
As a result, the Group has sought the Code of Conduct Bureau to penalise Lalong for having two political posts, which is against ethical practise.
Lalong was appointed Minister of Labour and Employment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after being defeated by AVM Napoleon Bali in the general election on February 25, 2023.
However, displeased with the election results, Lalong petitioned the tribunal to overturn Senator AVM Napoleon Bali’s victory.
Napoleon defeated Lalong by 57,145 votes and was proclaimed the lawful winner of the Senatorial race; nevertheless, former governor Lalong misled the Appeal Court by reportedly bribing his way to victory and was pronounced the winner.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to relief former governor Lalong from his ministerial position and appoint any qualified Plateau son or daughter as his replacement.
The youths further express displeasure over former governor Lalong’s poor performance during his eight years as governor of the State especially in his senatorial zone Plateau South.
“The past eight years of governor Lalong features incompetency and insecurity without any positive development.
“We never felt any positive impact of Lalong in his eight years as governor and now we don’t expect anything different”.
The group led by Comrade Adams Yerling says, “we are fed up with the Nigerian Judiciary because there is no justice in recent happenings in Nigeria especially on 2023 election matters. It is quite surprisingly that a collective decision of millions citizens were left in the hands of 3-man panel to decide. “It is irrational for 3 man panel to decide the faith of millions citizens.
“Former governor Lalong should decide which position he is settling for and allow Plateau South Senatorial District to have a voice in the National Assembly.
Also speaking, Comrade Emmanuel Nimzing, a political activist, sees political developments in Plateau South as discouraging, with no voice of representation in the Senate for more than two months following the nullification of Senator Napoleon Bali’s election.
He noted that the zone was left empty because former governor Lalong declined to select which role he would accept.
