Confusion Over supreme court ruling

Confusion Over Supreme Court Ruling

FOLLOWING Friday’s Supreme Court judgment that sacked five governors, who, before the April 2011 elections had their tenures extended by the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has said it would issue a statement tomorrow on the recently conducted governorship election in Kogi State.
  The Commission said its team of lawyers would have to study the judgment before meeting on it tomorrow, after which it would come out with a specific position.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports that former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, had gone into hiding following the Supreme Court Judgment, indications emerged yesterday that he traveled to Abuja.
Sylva had accepted the judgment in “good faith.”
Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, while responding to The Guardian inquiry yesterday said, “as at now, the Commission has no position on the matter, but it would have to meet in the course of next week to determine thenext move.”
 Asked when specifically the meeting would hold, he said, it (the meeting) would hold on Monday, adding, “You know our team of lawyers would have to meet and deliberate on the Supreme Court pronouncements and their implications as they affect the election and other ones.
 Confusion had trailed the Supreme Court judgment in the Kogi State capital, as both the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, and Captain Idris Ibrahim Wada, who was elected on December 3, last year were both sworn in as Acting Governor and Governor respectively.
 Both were sworn-in on Friday at different venues by two different judicial officials. While Bello was sworn-in by the State Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah as directed by the Apex Court, Wada was reportedly sworn-in by the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Mr. Ibrahim Atadoga, a situation that left the sate in total confusion.
Cross River State appeared calm yesterday following thejudgment that terminated the elongated first tenure of senator Liyel Imoke.
In a statewide broadcast yesterday, the Acting Governor,Mr. Larr Odey said his primary responsibility was to carry on with Governance of the State, stabilise the polity and prepare the enabling environment for the conduct of a free and fair election as would be directed by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.
Odey said it was not his intention to alter the machinery of governance by making changes.
“This can only be done as it may become necessary.  In the light of this, all appointees of Government and particularly members of the State Executive Council areto carry out their duties as usual.”
He said, “all issues that require my clearance should be brought to my attention. I solicit the cooperation of all civil servants particularly the Permanent Secretaries during this time.
Meanwhile, Senator Imoke, who was elected flag bearer for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 14,2012 gubernatorial election in the State has been presented with the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) nomination form.
Presenting the form to Imoke, who was represented by his running mate, Mr. Efiok Cobham, in Calabar, yesterday, the state Chairman of the party, Ntufam EkpoOkon contended that the presentation of the form forecloses rumours making the rounds that the PDP has forfeited the candidature of the duo following the Supreme Court judgment that ordered the termination ofhis first tenure on Friday, January 27, adding that the symbolic event was to cement the land slide victory Imoke recorded at the last gubernatorial primaries in thestate.