The former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye is set to declare his interest in contesting the Plateau Central senatorial seat on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
Dariye and the former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame were, on Monday released from prison three months after they were granted presidential pardon by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Council of State.
Dariye spent about four years in prison out of his 10-year sentence for N1.126 billion fraud.
Daily Trust reports that the Plateau State chapter of LP has concluded arrangements to welcome Dariye from Abuja to pick the party’s senatorial form.
A Labour Party official, told newsmen: “Yes, it is true that he (Dariye) will be running for a Senate seat. We are making arrangements for him to come from Abuja for the senatorial declaration.”
According to the party official, the former Plateau State Governor has the capacity to spring surprises at next year’s election because of the love many have for him in the North-Central State.
He added that Dariye has also given a boost to the party’s governorship candidate, Patrick Dakum, who defected to the LP, after failing to secure the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Governor who served as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, defected from the party. He contested and won a senatorial seat in 2011 on the platform of LP.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party is former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi who has disrupted the regular money politics that elections are known.
He has amassed massive support from the youths and civil service groups many of whom are fed up of the hardship that pervades the nation currently.