Minister Simon Lalong Resigns from FEC, Set to Assume Plateau South Senatorial Seat.

Minister Simon Lalong Resigns from FEC, Set to Assume Plateau South Senatorial Seat.                 By: Comr Olamide Akinwumi 

In a significant development, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has tendered his resignation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's cabinet, paving the way for his assumption of the Plateau South Senatorial seat, which he emerged victorious in.

Lalong, the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, opted for the senatorial position after securing victory in the election. Senate President Godswill Akpabio is expected to conduct the swearing-in ceremony later this week, according to reliable sources.

Background:

The seasoned politician, who served as the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation leading up to the February Presidential poll, initially faced electoral defeat, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the Court of Appeal overturned the result in his favor, granting him the victory.

Resignation and Preparation:

Following Wednesday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Lalong, a lawyer and former two-term Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, formally tendered his resignation. This move is in preparation for his upcoming role at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

Presidential aide Imran Muhammad announced on Twitter, "President Tinubu has accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong’s resignation from the cabinet. His valedictory will hold at the next FEC meeting."

Sylvanus Namang, the spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, also confirmed Lalong's resignation from FEC.

Certificate of Return and Consultations:

Lalong had received his Certificate of Return last month, a result of the Court of Appeal's directive to INEC after nullifying the election of Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who previously occupied the senatorial seat.

In a strategic move, party leaders engaged in consultations with Lalong last month to discuss his replacement in FEC. The seasoned politician, known for his loyalty to the party, recommended four names as potential replacements during the meeting.

Party Perspective:

APC leaders view the resolution of the Plateau South senatorial election litigation in Lalong's favor as a significant boost to the party's representation in the Senate. Acknowledging his experience as a two-term House of Assembly Speaker, the party anticipates that Lalong will unofficially hold the status of a ranking senator.

The decision to have Lalong assume the senatorial seat is also seen as a measure to avoid an inevitable supplementary senatorial election, which would be triggered by Lalong's resignation from the Senate.

As Simon Lalong transitions from the federal cabinet to the National Assembly, the political landscape in Plateau South undergoes a noteworthy transformation with potential implications for the region's representation in the Senate.