The Federal Excessive Court docket in Jos on Friday confirmed the candidacy of Patrick Dakum because the governorship candidate of the Labor Social gathering (LP) in Plateau.
The get together was in disaster after the emergence of two gubernatorial candidates – Yohanna Margif and Patrick Dakum.
Mr. Dakum, who beforehand contested and misplaced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidacy, emerged because the LP candidate within the August 6 election.
The brand new major election, performed by affirmation, was anticipated to successfully nullify the earlier major election by which Yohanna Margif grew to become a candidate.
That election was held on June 9, however the winner, Mr. Margif, reportedly withdrew from the race.
However Mr Margif, who has rejected claims he has withdrawn from the race, went to court docket to dismiss the looks of Mr. Dakuma as a candidate for LP.
He advised the court docket that the stated withdrawal letter was “concocted by some miscreants to wreak havoc and mislead loyal get together members”.
Choose Dorcas Agishi said throughout the sentencing that the court docket was satisfied, primarily based on the proof earlier than it, that the prosecutor had certainly signed the withdrawal letter.
Ms Agishi stated the proof earlier than the court docket additionally confirmed that Mr Margif voluntarily withdrew from the race and was subsequently expelled from the get together, following a petition towards him.
She stated that primarily based on the proof, the prosecutor additionally agreed to carry new elections despite the fact that he was not a candidate in that competitors.
She said that for the reason that prosecutor didn’t apply to the court docket to cease the second major, he had no proper to problem its consequence.
“The legislation says that anybody can problem the result of a major election, she or he have to be a candidate within the contest,” she stated.
Due to this fact, she supported Dakum’s candidacy.
Counsel to the respondent, Edward Pwajok, SAN, after appreciating the court docket on the judgment, prayed the court docket to order the plaintiff to pay N3 million to every of the primary and second defendants, as look prices.
EI Atoh, protection lawyer of Mr. Margif, requested the court docket to reject the prayers of Mr. Pwajoka as a result of his shopper “used his elementary rights by bringing the accused to court docket”.
In her verdict, the decide ordered the plaintiff to pay the quantity of 200,000 NZK every as prices to the primary defendant and the second defendant.
Mr Pwajok, reacting to the judgment, appreciated the court docket for upholding justice by declaring Dakum the reliable candidate of the get together.
(NAN)