March 15, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declared Dr. Patrick Dakum, as the authentic candidate of the Labour party (LP) for the March 18 governorship election in Plateau state.
The court dismissed an appeal filed against Dakum’s candidacy by one of the LP governorship aspirants, Ambassador Yohanna Margif.
Margif’s lawyer, Opeyemi George Ojo, had urged the 5-man panel of the apex court led by Justice John Inyang Okoro, to allow his appeal against Dakum.
At the lower court, the lawyer had claimed that his client won the LP governorship election and never withdrew from the race.
However, the party confirmed that a fresh election was held after Margif voluntarily tendered a letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that Dakum emerged after a fresh poll was conducted.
Both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal had affirmed Dakum as the valid candidate of the LP based on the fresh elections that were held, prompting Margif to approach the Supreme Court for redress.
In a judgment on Wednesday, the apex court said Margif’s application was filed against time.
The panel also agreed with the findings of the lower courts.
Subsequently, the appellant withdrew his application and the panel dismissed and affirmed Dakum as the authentic candidate of the LP for the Plateau guber election.
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