There were mixed reactions yesterday in Delta, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa and Kogi states over the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on the tenure extension suit filed by five governors. Supporters of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan jubilated over the ruling which granted the affected governors a fresh mandate.
Although Uduaghan was not one of the plaintiffs in yesterday’s ruling, his supporters were jubilating over the possible effect of the ruling on a similar suit filed by the governor.
Mr. Paul Odili, Communication Manager to Uduaghan, spoke cautiously, citing fear of running foul of the law as his boss was already in court over the fate of his tenure after victory at the January 6 election.
He said, "The import of the judgment is applicable to Delta State’s fresh election held on the January 6 and has a very positive implication for Uduaghan."
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma D’jeba said: "We commend the judiciary for standing firm for justice, truth, equity and fairness.
"This is a landmark judgment which shows that truth will always prevail and that light will always shine over darkness and the good will triumph over evil.
"The government of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will continue to deliver on democracy dividend to the people of Delta State in his three-point agenda of peace and security; infrastructure development and human capital development."
It was gathered that the opposition, led by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the state, think otherwise. Some of them who spoke on condition of anonymity said the January election was held under the amended Electoral Act.
Bayelsa govt hails verdict
The Bayelsas State government said Governor Timipre Sylva’s victory will give the administration more time to deepen development and democracy in the state.
The Commissioner for Information said Sylva did not go to Court to perpetuate his stay in office but to get justice in view of the annulment of his 2007 election and his subsequent exit from office until 2008.
Egba said: "The government of Bayelsa state wishes to re-state that even though governorship elections in the state has been confirmed to hold in 2012, the PDP will not rest on its oars, as there is need to deliver all the party’s candidates from President Goodluck Jonathan, to all the National and state Assembly candidates in the forth-coming elections."
Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) described the ruling as a challenge to the stake holders of the state.
Judiciary has done its work, says Nyako
Governor Murtala Nyako said the judgment has given him the opportunity to further deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
The governor said: "As far as we are concerned, the judiciary has done its work. Even if the judgment had gone another way, it still would have been a judicial judgment."
However, the Labour Party secretary Mohammed Mayas wants the Federal Government and INEC to appeal the judgment, even though the party is fully prepared to contest the coming elections with or without the governorship elections. Mayas said with the judgment, Adamawa people have been denied the opportunity to make that change this April.
Jubilation in Lokoja
Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state was yesterday thrown into jubilation the over court’s decision.
Many PDP supporters, especially those loyal to the government were dancing.
Governor Ibrahim Idris also described the judgment as a challenge on him to continue with his rapid development of the state.
Idris who spoke through his Director General Press Affairs, Mr. Richard Elesho, said he would use the opportunity to consolidate his past achievements.
Deputy Senate Leader Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba described the judgment as victory for democracy.
’It is remarkable but not unexpected given the provisions of the constitution which governed those elections and the implication of judgements of the Supreme Court on the import of nullification.
"The judgment clarifies the law,the status of the affected governors and of course alters the politics of their States. Calculations will definitely change, ambitions put in abeyance and disappointment and frustration managed. It is surely a game changer.
The Chief Press Secretary to Imoke, Omini Oden, said: "My comments swiftly is that we are happy about it. It goes to confirm that there is clear interpretation of the law from all fronts by the judiciary"
The Nation
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