2023: Factional LP guber candidate open fake portal for INEC

The Governorship candidate for Labour Party (LP), in Plateau State, Amb Yohanna Margif has urged the people of the State to ignore what he tagged as a fake name uploaded on a fake portal of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

The fake INEC portal as sighted by our correspondent had claimed that the electoral umpire has settled for a Governorship candidate for Plateau Labour party other than Margif who was earlier issued a certificate as the LP candidate for the State.

Recall that a factional LP candidate in Plateau had emerged some months back, claiming that Margif had withdrawn from the race.

The battle ensued leading to a court judgement to be determined by a federal high court in Jos by December 15, 2022.

However, while waiting for the court judgement, an INEC portal surfaced yesterday on the internet with the name of one of the factional candidates claiming authentication by INEC as legitimate candidate.

Responding swiftly, Margif contacted INEC officials in Jos who disassociated INEC from the portal.

Margif however in a statement sent to our correspondent on Wednesday urged the State to ignore the fake name and fake portal.

According to him: “The INEC list of 4 October, 2022 carrying an unknown name rather than my name Yohana Margif, was fabricated by some mischief makers and disgruntled elements who disguised themselves as INEC officials to cause havoc and mislead loyal and faithful members of the Public haven’t collected huge amount of money.

“It is based on the above misleading information that I wish to clear the air for the consumption of constituted authorities and members of the public.

“The original portal of INEC has Amb Yohana Yilpwan Margif as the authentic Gubernatorial candidate for Plateau State Labour Party while this individuals have been attempting to force INEC to act negatively, but thank God the electoral umpire have responded to them point blank that the commission is neutral on issues like this and holding on to its neutrality since the matter is before a competent Court of Jurisdiction, which is the Federal High Court.

“Let me also inform the general public and our supporters that I have not received any information or communication from INEC notifying me that my name which was earlier submitted by the Labour Party and was uploaded on their portal has been changed or replaced.

“These desperate individuals who struggled to force themselves through the back door and windows by ensuring somebody’s name surfaced as the Labour Party candidate in Plateau State want nothing rather than  to score cheap political points and create tension across Plateau State.

“Recall that I, Yohanna Margif earlier stated in clear terms that I have not written any letter of withdrawal from the Governorship race under the platform of the Labour Party in Plateau State.

“I have not in any way contemplated withdrawing from the 2023 governorship election in Plateau and I will not withdraw from the race because I am in the contest to win the election and bequeath good governance to the people of Plateau State.

“It is on record that some desperate individuals had approached me, requesting that I negotiate with them and relinquish the hard earned ticket to them which I refuse and that has made them forget two separate withdrawal laters on my behalf which were sent to INEC.

“A situation that had made me to immediately take any oath in a competent Court to affirmed my position that I have not withdrawn from the Governorship race based on the purported letter and I am not going to do so despite the pressure from certain political quarters.

“Recall also, that the forged letter is carrying Yohana Yilwan contrary to my name as I am known and address as Amb. Yohanna Yilpwan  Margif.

Based on the above facts, I wish to inform the general public and our teaming supporters in Plateau and diaspora and members of the Labour Party, that I remain the authentic and the only Governorship Candidate of the Party in Plateau until the outcome of the

the judgement by Her Lordship Justice Agishi Wich is expected to come up on or before 15th, Dec 2022″, he said.