By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State, Amb. Yohanna Margif said he remains the authentic standard bearer of the party in the state.
He also urge Plateau people to disregard anyone parading himself as the new candidate of the party.
Recall that a primary election of the Labour Party was conducted on the 9th June, 2022 at Retnan Hotel and Event Centre, Bukuru where Yohanna Margif emerged candidate of the party.
Also, a certificate of return was subsequently presented to him, by the National Chairman of the Party to affirm his candidature as the standard bearer of the party for the 2023 polls.
Recall also that yesterday (5th August, 2022) a purported primary election of the Labour Party electing Dr Patrick Dakum as the party’s flag bearer in the State.
Even though the media were not invited for the purported primary election, it was gathered that people not members of the party were brought in to participate as delegates, and were given N10000 and N5000 each.
Margif in a press statement issued in Jos on Saturday, made available to joirnalists, said his life has been under threat to withdraw from the contest and that he has never contemplated withdrawing and will not withdraw from the 2023 election.
It reads: “My attention has been drawn to a purported and illegal primary election by some disgruntled political elements who disguised themselves as members of Labour Party in Plateau State, I wish to state clearly that I am the only and authentic governorship candidate of Labour Party in Plateau.
According to him, “Since my emergence as the gubernatorial flag bearer of LP in Plateau State, I have taken deliberate steps in collaboration with other members of the party in Plateau and at the National Secretariat to put the party in better perspective to win the 2023 election.
“I must say without contradiction that my effort since I join the Labour Party has endeared several people from different political parties into the Party.
“I wish to state clearly that I have not in any way contemplated withdrawing from the 2023 governorship election in Plateau State and I will not withdraw from the race”, he explained.
“I am in the contest to win the election and give Plateau people good governance that will enthrone development.”
Margif added that the governorship ticket of the Labour Party under his custody is not for sale and that he is in the race to win.
“I am not in the contest to withdraw, and the ticket of Labour Party in Plateau State is not for sale, therefore those who are clamouring for the ticket and misleading gullible Plateau people and Nigerians that I have withdrawn from the race should desist forthwith.
“The illegal and concocted primary election that brought together people who are selling groundnut, Kunu, Banana, Moimoi among others as delegates at the Ken Palace Hotel in Jos, allegedly owned by the former Governor, Joshua Dariye, is null and void, and cannot hold water.
“It has become very expedient for me to place on record that my life is under threat as some politicians, particularly aspirants who contested the APC primary election and lost have being mounting pressure on me to withdraw from the race”, he maintained.
“I wish to state clearly that I have not withdraw from the race and I don’t have any plan to withdraw.”
He called on his ardent supporters to remained calm and disregard any rumour that he has withdraw for a fresh primaries as he is vying for the office of the Governor of Plateau state to bequeath good infrastructural legacy and return Plateau to the people.
