The Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the five states where the Supreme Court terminated the tenure of the sitting governors are to take over as acting governors, pending the conduct of fresh elections in the states.
In a unanimous judgment read by Justice Walter Onnoghen, the seven-member Supreme Court panel on Friday ruled that the tenure of the five Governors expired last year and declared their offices vacant, to be filled by fresh elections.
Justice Onnoghen said no person elected under the 1999 Constitution can remain in office beyond four years, adding: ‘The oath they took in 2007 remain valid.’
The judgment was in an appeal by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) governorship candidate in Adamawa state, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The affected state Governors are Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).
KOGI GETS TWO GOVERNORS
Following the Friday ruling of the Supreme Court which terminated the tenure of the Kogi state governor and four others, the President of Kogi state customary court had sworn-in the winner of the last December governorship election, Captain Idris Wada as the new governor of the state.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke nullified the swearing in of Mr Wada and ordered the Chief Judge of Kogi state to swear in the speaker of the Kogi state house of assembly, Abdullahi Bello as the acting governor pending the outcome of another election in the state.
