Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, contested but lost the February 25, 2023 election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election. Nevertheless, Lalong headed for the tribunal and secured a favourable ruling.
The three-member panel, chaired by Justice Mahmoud Tukur, held that the votes scored by the PDP candidate in the election were wasted votes as he was invalidly nominated. The judgment held that the PDP had no valid structure in the state at the time of the nomination.
On Thursday, Lalong arrived at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, alongside some of his associates, to pick up the certificate which was presented to him by Mohammed Haruna, a National Commissioner. After receiving the certificate, Lalong tweeted, “Today I received the certificate of return at the INEC Headquarters from the National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna.”
His action shows he might quit his role as Labour minister, which has been eventful as a result of the running battle with Labour leaders, the last which led to a nationwide strike as a result of the assault on Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Owerri, Imo State.