Yakubu Busari
The Plateau Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) crisis has deepened as the running mate of embattled Amb. M.D Yohanna Margif has dragged the running mate Dr Patrick Dakum in person of, Barr.Edward Pwajok to Court challenging his nomination of running mate before a Federal High Court No 2 sitting in Jos Division.
The counsel to the petitioner’s Barr. Munir Barau Abdullahi told the court that the matter was slated for hearing on the suit filed by his client, Engr Jack Dung Bot seeking the order of the court to reverse the nomination of Barr.Edward Pwajok as the running mate to Dr Patrick Dakum.
However, the pre-election degenerated into full flesh conflict where two aspirants are laying claim of victory under the same ticket as Ambassador Yahaya Margif Vs Dr Patrick Dakum the party Deputy Governorship Candidate of Plateau state.
Abdullahi said they sought an adjournment to the 11th November 2022 to enable the parties to file their preliminary Objection before the presiding judge, Justice Musa Kulliat
He said on the 4th Oct,22 INEC published the lists of Governorships and their Deputies in line with the INEC guideline across the 36 States of the Federation which prompted the reaction of, Engr Jack Dung Bot whose name was substituted in the final list of the state chapter.
According to him, the law is very clear the fact that once primary Elections have been conducted, and the Gubernatorial Candidate emerged as flag bearer he would be responsible to nominate his own running mate and send the lists to INEC for approval.
He further explained that the moment INEC accept the lists of parties after the primary they become individual that has acquired the power to appoint any person for his running mate which might be followed by the publication by the website of INEC for the person to serve as the Deputy Governor.
Munir Abdullahi pointed out that in the political arrangement before you remove his name, you must follow the laydown procedure as that in the electoral Act so the decision was taken to appoint another deputy governorship without due process of the law.
He explained further that in the electoral Act specifically there are two instances that you can substitute a Candidate by mire pronouncement to substitute him.
Barr. Munir Abdullahi stressed that first except when the candidate dies, or when he voluntarily resigns his position for the post of deputy governor of his party but the labour Party erroneously replaced Engr Dung Bot with Dr Patrick Dakum without consultation with the executive.
He added that there is no how you can just remove his name as the Deputy Governor with another name without his consent and that is why we are in court to enforce the right he has been praying.
Abdullahi said, “till this moment, the labour Party has not written any letter to my client that he has been substituted with another person for the seat of running mate “.
The 2nd respondent who doubled as the running mate of the party under Dr Patrick Dakum Edward Pwajok SAN, told the court that the matter is not ripe for hearing and he has not filed any processes before the court, but choose to appear in court because of his high respect for the court and the rule of law.
He further asked for a short adjournment to enable the 2nd respondent to file it reply in accordance with the laydown proceedings of the court and parties shall exchange brief.
Meanwhile, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the decision of who to be a running mate is an agreement between the principal and the running mate, which is solely the decision of the Guber not for an intruder to drag us to court over a simple issue.
