Tenure: INEC appeals court judgment

Category: Inside politics Published on Thursday, 03 March 2011 00:00

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed an appeal before the Abuja Court of Appeal challenging the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja which held that five governors who won re-run elections in 2008 are to stay on until they complete fresh four-year terms beginning from the days they took oaths of office after the repeat polls.

Delivering the judgment in a consolidated suit filed by the five governors seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting governorship election in their states, Justice Adamu Bello had on January 24, held that Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) would enjoy extended stays in office as there would be no governorship elections earlier planned to hold in their states in April.

Speaking on a basis of anonymity however, counsel to INEC said the commission is seeking an order of stay of judgment pending the determination of the appeal. The counsel also said the electoral body is prepared to conduct election in those states.

Justice Adamu Bello had in the judgment held that the tenure of the governors began in 2008 when they took fresh oaths of office and allegiance following the nullification of their April 14, 2007 elections by the Appeal Court.

Justice Bello said the tenure of the five governors would expire as follows: Nyako, April 30, 2012; Wamakko, May 28, 2012; Idris, April 5, 2012; Sylva, May 29, 2012; and Imoke, August 28, 2012.