Labour Party expel ex-Plateau guber candidate Margif, confirms Dakum as new flag bearer

From Daniel Dauda, Jos

The National working committee of Labour Party has expelled former gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State for 2023 general elections, Chief Yohanna Margif from the party over financial scandals and other related offenses.

The party also confirmed that Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum is now the authentic governorship flag bearer of Labour Party in Plateau.

You would recall Labour Party issue a circular for the conduct of fresh governorship primaries across 12 States including Plateau. However, the said governorship primaries elections which was conducted on Friday 5th August, 2022 in Plateau saw Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum emerged winner with 85 votes.

According to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Barr. Julius Abure  in a statement on revealed, ” this is to inform the general public, especially our teeming members in Plateau State that our former gubernatorial candidate, Yohanna  Margif has been expelled from the Party.

“This follows various investigated petitions forwarded to the Party’s National Headquarters. He was arrested by the Plateau State Police command on grounds of issuing dud cheques to the tune of N14m, he swindled a house of assembly staff of N40m by selling a house that does not belong to him.

“Furthermore, about 4 hotels in Abuja metropolis brought bills of over N3m, which he incurred  and escaped from such hotels.

“This Party has called him severally, but he declined to show up. He wanted to trade the ticket given to him for N50m hence he signed a withdrawal letter in anticipation of the said amount.

“When the money was not forthcoming, he started blackmailing the Party for allegedly forging his signature. This Party is a responsible political platform that harbours people of integrity. The National Working Committee has expelled him from the party forthwith.

“Henceforth, anyone who has any dealing(s) with him on behalf of Labour Party does so at his/her own risk. INEC has been notified of this development and the substitutionary primaries has since been conducted and the new Gubernatorial candidate has been unveiled, he is Dr. Patrick Dakum”, the chairman stated.

In the same vein, the chairmen of Labour Party in Bokkos Local Government and Margif Kopmur Ward in Bokkos, Amb. Sylvernus Diyongs and Jacob Diylsum said Chief Yohanna Margif has been expelled because of gross misconduct.

The duo admitted the party could no longer condone the high level of criminal activities of Margif, hence the party was left with no option than to evoke the provision of the party’s construction to expel him from the party.