The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja Friday affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from holding governorship election in five states because the tenure of the governors had not yet come to an end.
In a judgment that was read for close to two hours, five justices of the appeal court commended the trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello , for coming to the right conclusion when it held that the earlier oath of office taken by the governors had been nullified with the election.
The court said its duty was to apply the law as it was and not sentiment.
The affected governors are Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).
With the affirmation of the high court judgment , the tenure of the five governors will expire at various times other than May 29 this year.
By the judgment Idris will leave office on April 5th, 2012, Wamako will vacate office on 28th May, 2012, Nyako will leave on 30th April 2012, Sylva on 29th May 2012 while Imoke will vacate office on 28 August 2012. But INEC was dissatisfied and lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Source: ThisDayOnline