Court stops guber election in five states

Guardian

23 Feb 2011

Court stops guber election in five states

Says tenure of governors subsists

THE Federal High Court, Abuja Division on Wednesday barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Cross Rivers and Bayelsa States during the general polls.

The court held that there was no vacancy in any of the five governorship seats as the tenure of the governors was still in force and would run beyond May 29.The court declared that their tenure shall not expire until sometimes next year.

The beneficiaries of the judgment include Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Aliyu Wammakko(Sokoto); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).

Delivering his judgment in the consolidated suits filed by the five governors, Mr. Judge Adamu Bello agreed with counsel to Kogi state, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) that the tenure of the governors legally started in 2008 when they took fresh oath of office and allegiance upon the nullification of their April 14, 2007 elections by the courts.