Simon Lalong
 |
Simon Lalong | |
|---|---|
| 20th Governor of Plateau State | |
| Assumed office May 29, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jonah David Jang |
| Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly | |
| In office 2000–2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Simon Bako Lalong 5 May 1963 Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressive Congress |
| Education | Masters Degree in Law from University of Jos |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Simon Lalong (born 5 May 1963 in Shendam, Plateau State) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician, who is the present Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria.[1][2][3]
Education
After his elementary and secondary schools education in Shendam Local Government Area he proceeded to the School of Preliminary Studies (S.P.S) Keffi, passing out in 1986. He then continued to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in Law. This was immediately followed by the Law School in Lagos, where he was also called to Bar. He later obtained a master's degree in Law from the University of Jos, in 1996.[4][5]
Professional career
Lalong’s professional career as an attorney lasted between 1992, the year following his graduation from law school, and 1998, the dawn of Nigeria’s new democracy. During this period he worked with a few law firms, one of which he co-owned. Between 1992 and 1994 he was the Deputy Scribe of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State. After a political stint that lasted seven years he again returned to legal practice as the Principal Partner of Simon B Lalong and Co, until 2015.[4][5]
Political life
Simon Lalong temporarily discarded legal practice to join the political bandwagon in 1998. Under the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he successfully contested the seat of the member of the Plateau State House of Assembly representing his native Shendam Constituency. In October 2000 he became the speaker of the assembly, occupying that position till the year 2006, following a political storm within the House. The seven years he served as the Speaker of that assembly made him the longest serving speaker of the House in the history of Plateau State. During that period he was two times (2001–2002) elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria. In the year 2015, as the second tenure of the serving Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, neared its end, Lalong joined the contest to succeed Jang. This time, he did so under the All Progressive Congress (APC) political platform. His chances seemed narrow at the beginning, but the capricious nature of politics tipped the balance eventually, favoring him by a slim margin. He was sworn in as the new Governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2015.[6][7][8]
In the March 9, 2019 Plateau State Gubernatorial Election and March 23, 2019 Plateau State supplementary Gubernatorial Election, Lalong was reelected as Governor of Plateau State, having polled 595,582 votes against his rival, Gen. Jeremiah Husseini of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 546,813 votes.[9] He was re-elected as the governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2019.[10][11][12]
References
- ^ siteadmin (2020-01-20). "Supreme Court Affirms Lalong As Governor Of Plateau State". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Supreme Court Upholds Simon Lalong's Election As Plateau Governor". Channels Television. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "EXTRA: I won re-election because I pay salaries, says Lalong". TheCable. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ a b "Simon Lalong". governorlalong.com.ng. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
- ^ a b "Official Website of Plateau State". www.plateaustate.gov.ng. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
- ^ siteadmin (2015-04-13). "Simon Lalong Victorious In Plateau State". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "APC's Lalong wins Plateau guber election - P.M. News". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Plateau Election Tribunal Upholds Gov. Lalong's Election". Channels Television. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/plateau-governor-lalong-speaks-after-winning-reelection.html
- ^ "BREAKING: Simon Lalong re-elected as Plateau state governor". 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Lalong Re-elected As Plateau Governor". aitonline.tv. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "BREAKING: Governor Lalong reelected for second term in Plateau » 2019Elections » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2020-03-03.