The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal brought before it by a Labour Party’s governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Yohanna Margif, challenging the nomination of another candidate of the party, Patrick Dakum.
The appeal was dismissed by Justice Inyang Okoro following its withdrawal by the appellant, Margif, having realized that the matter has become statute barred.
Counsel for the appellant, Opeyemi Ojo, had pleaded with the Apex Court to invoke Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to take over the matter and resolve all disputed issues in the interest of justice to his client.
But the 5-man panel of Justices of the Court rejected his prayer on the ground that conditions precedents for the Court to invoke section 22 of the Supreme Court Act were not met.
The Justices reminded the lawyer that both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court no longer have jurisdiction that can be invoked by the Supreme Court since the time for the matter to be heard had lapsed.
The appellant therefore withdrew the appeal and subsequently dismissed
The appellant had challenged the emergence of Dakum as the Labour Party’s Gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State insisting that Margif won the governorship primary election of the party and never withdrew his nomination.
Labour Party however in its defence insisted that Margif in a letter voluntarily withdrew his candidacy and copied the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), with the same letter.
The Party claimed that following the withdrawal by Margif, a new primary election was conducted where Patrick Dakum emerged and his name submitted to INEC.
Margif approached the Federal High Court and the court declared Dakum as the legitimate governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Plateau State.
The court established that Yohanna Margif had signed an affidavit of voluntary withdrawal as the governorship candidate of the party which necessitated the party to conduct fresh primary that produced Dr. Dakum.
Not satisfied Margif approached the Court of Appeal but lost and proceeded to the supreme court.
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
