Justice Dan Abutu
In a ruling that stunned political and legal observers, the court ruled that there should not be governorship elections in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Kogi, Rivers and Sokoto states since the court claimed that the tenure of the incumbent governors had not expired.
The affected governors were those whose elections were overturned by electoral tribunals on account of electoral fraud in the 2007 elections, but who were subsequently declared winners of questionable re-run elections conducted by former INEC chairman Maurice Iwu except in Delta state.
“It’s curious that our courts continues a tradition of subverting Nigeria’s democratic gains and shoring up the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,” said a democracy activist based in Abuja. He added, “this kind of judicial impunity may instigate widespread revolt by the long-suffering people of Nigeria.”
With today’s federal court ruling, each of the seven PDP governors will now spend much more than the constitutionally mandated four year term for governors.
A legal expert familiar with the case told Naija News Desk today that the governors should not jubilate yet as there are conflicting rulings already on the matter including a declarative ruling by the Supreme Court on the matter. He said the case is now bound to go to the Court of Appeal where a war of attrition orchestrated by the PDP and aimed at its head, Justice Isa Salami, would likely stall any quick resolution.
A source said some of the governors are counting on eventually getting the Supreme Court to weigh in on the vexed issue. The apex court, under the leadership of Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, remains a natural sphere of support for the PDP governors.
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