Wole Ayodele
28 February 2008
Lokoja — The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja will today give judgment in an appeal filed by the Acting Governor of Kogi State, Chief Clarence Olafemi, challenging the nullification of his election as a member of the state Assembly representing Mopa-Muro constituency.
The Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal in a petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) candidate, Mr. Ayo Abereoran, had nullified Olafemi's election into the Assembly and ordered a fresh election.
Olafemi had appealed the September 18, 2007 tribunal's judgment voiding his election.
While the case was on in the tribunal, Olafemi was elected the Speaker of the House.
Another tribunal judgment on October 10, 2007 had nullified Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the state governorís election. A court of appeal had upheld the tribunal's judgment thereby leading to Idris' removal from office.
The development had culminated in Olafemi being sworn in as the acting governor of the state on February 6, 2008.
Olafemi, by his position as Acting Governor becoms the first non-Igalaman to assume the post in the history of the state.
Since his assumption of office, there has been a concerted effort by some prominent indigenes of Okun land in Kogi West Senatorial district to broker truce between the acting governor and the AC candidate.
The indigenes were basing their argument on the implication a judgment against Olafemi might have on the present political configuration in the state.
Abereoran on the other hand has raised an alarm that there had been attempts to induce him monetarily.
One of the attempts to reconcile Olafemi and Abereoran was made by Senator Smart Adeyemi who facilitated a meeting between the two contenders at his National Assembly office but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Thereafter, Senator Adeyemi, along with 10 others instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a fresh election in some areas in the state as ordered by the tribunal.
The intension of the suit is to bar Olafemi from standing for a fresh election as they were challenging the cancellation of the entire election result for Mopa-Muro constituency won by Olafemi.
In anticipation of today's judgment, there have been uneasy calm in Lokoja and environs as people are seen discussing the likely outcome of the case in groups, while supporters of both parties particularly those of the acting governor have all moved to Abuja to witness the sitting of the Appeal Court.
Besides, members of the state Executive Council are equally not left out in the attempt to show solidarity with the acting governor as they too had to Abuja for the judgment.
In separate interviews with THISDAY in Lokoja, both the acting governor and Abereoran expressed optimism that judgment would be given in their favour, while they equally expressed their readiness to abide by the decision of the Appeal Court in the matter.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Chief Kola Toluhi, Olafemi stated that he had confidence in the ability of the judiciary, adding that victory would surely be in their favour.
Also speaking, Abereoran said the acting governor was living on a stolen mandate. adding that he would be disgraced at the end of the judgment.
He, however, commended the judiciary for restoring the hope of the common man against the forces of oppression.He expressed utmost confidence that he would emerge victorious at the end of todayís judgment.
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