John Ighodaro, George Olanrinoye and Emmanuel Aziken
15 July 2008
Cross River — MR. Liyel Imoke's tenure as Cross River State governor was terminated yesterday by the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar which annulled his April 2007 election. Reason: non compliance of the election with the 2006 Electoral Act and gross irregularities during the polls.
Mr. Imoke responded swiftly to the verdict, saying: "As a law-abiding citizen, I will respect the rule of law and the constitution I swore to uphold."
His party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), called the judgment a setback for the people.
Already, tension has gripped residents of Osogbo, Osun State where the state election tribunal will, today, deliver judgment in the petition filed by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola of Action Congress (AC) against the election of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The situation is not different in Benue State where the people are awaiting the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Jos in the appeal filed by Senate President, Chief David Mark, over the invalidation of his election.
The All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Mr. Paul Ukpo; Progressive People's Alliance's Iheke Awah; African Renaissance Party; Mr. James Ebri; and the Action Congress (AC) had taken Mr. Imoke to the Election Petition Tribunal which upheld his victory. That was on January 23, 2008.
Dissatisfied with the verdict of the lower court, Mr. Ukpo proceeded to the Appeal Court arguing there was no election in the state and that there was non-compliance with the 2006 Electoral Act.
Justice Suleiman Galadima, in his three-hour judgment cited anomalies such as allocation of scores and non-presentation of result sheets at the polling booths. He also said the petitioners were not given a fair hearing by the lower court.
The Appeal Court asked Mr. Imoke to vacate office immediately and Speaker of the House of Assembly be sworn in with immediate effect as acting Governor. A fresh election is to be held within 90 days.
We're vindicated, Ukpo's counsel
Speaking, counsel to Mr Paul Ukpo, Mr. Felix Offia, said the judgment had vindicated his firm belief in the Nigerian judiciary. He said the judiciary had proved a point again, arguing that the fact that a fresh election had been called was a welcome development. He said it was appropriate for the two parties to go for a fresh election.
In his reaction, lead Counsel to Mr. Imoke, Mr. Joe Agi, said they were bound by the judgment of the Appeal Court and would prepare for a fresh election.
Before handing over, Governor Liyel Imoke issued a statement in which he expressed his willingness to abide by the decision of the Appeal Court.
I'll respect rule of law - Imoke
He said: "I Senator Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State hereby acknowledge the verdict of the Electoral Appeal Tribunal delivered in Calabar today (yesterday), Monday, 14th July, 2008, nullifying my election of 14th April, 2007 as Governor of Cross River State.
"I wish to state categorically that as a law-abiding citizen, I will respect the rule of law and the constitution I swore to uphold.
"In the light of the judgment, I am handing over to the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly until a fresh election is held and an elected Governor subsequently sworn in.
"I appeal to all Cross Riverians to remain calm and go about their normal duties.
"Let me use this opportunity to thank all Cross Riverians for the immense support given to my administration within the past year and pray you extend the same to His Excellency, the acting Governor, the Rt. Hon. Francis Adah. Long Live Cross River State! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
Great setback - PDP
His party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), described the annulment of his election as a great setback for the people of the state.
The party also vowed to support its Governors and all elected officers on its platform across the country geared towards achieving their desires. The party in a statement signed in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said "the PDP expressed its shock and dismay over the annulment of the Cross River State Governorship election by the Court of Appeal.
This is a great setback for the people of Cross River State who have been yearning for development.
"The party will at both state and national levels swing into action by mobilising its supporters in the state in preparation for the re-run election, so that the PDP will recapture the state in order not to allow the ongoing projects to be stalled or stunted," he said.
The PDP, however, urged the people of the state to rally round Senator Liyel Imoke in the forthcoming re-run election to reclaim what it described as his mandate, adding: "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should put in place all necessary modalities as an unbiased umpire for the re-run as it did in all previous bye-elections which earned her international commendations."
According to the party's spokesperson, the party viewed with satisfaction the two judgments delivered over the weekend by the Court of Appeal in Enugu that reaffirmed the victories of its Governorship and Senatorial candidates, Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Martins Elechi of Ebonyi and Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the April 2007 elections.
Court decides Oyinlola's fate today
Tension has gripped residents of Osogbo, as the state election petition tribunal is set to give judgment in the petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in the 2007 general election, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola, against the declaration of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
The Police and other security agencies in the state have beefed up security in and outside the state capital with a view to thwarting any attempt by any group of people or individuals to unleash terror on innocent citizens of the state.
Checkpoints and public buildings are now being manned by stern-looking policemen to protect them from being torched or vandalised by hoodlums.
Briefing newsmen in Osogbo yesterday ahead of today's judgment, the PDP leaders warned that its members were prepared to lay down their lives should there be any attempt by the AC to import mercenaries into the state to cause trouble.
The PDP leaders who spoke through Chief Yinka Adeojo, the state Secretary of the party, threatened that "this is going to be the final battle in the Osun State politics should there be any attempt by the AC to repeat what they did after last year election.
"If anybody comes from Lagos to disturb the peace of this state, I can assure you that he will not go back alive. What they did in the state last time and got away with it will not be allowed to repeat itself.
"We are going to bounce back on the indigenous AC when the importees must have left if they foment trouble.
We want to liberate our people this time around from Lagos incursion. If they want to invade Osogbo, let Tinubu and Aregbesola take the lead," he added.
Meanwhile, the state AC had directed all its members and supporters to stay away from the venue of the tribunal when the judgment was being read.
In a letter to the state Commissioner of Police signed by the Secretary of the party, Mr. Adegboyega Famoodun, the party said the directives became imperative in other to save its members and associates in other political parties from being held for what they did not know anything about.
"Besides, the AC in our usual character is turning to God whom we have firm believe in will right all wrongs being perpetrated at the fullness of His own time," the statement added.
Senators suspend travel plans as court decides Mark's fate today
Suspense arising from today's Appeal Court judgment on the election of Chief David Mark as a Senator has forced Senators to suspend plans for holiday as intrigues shadow plotting by potential rivals for the office of Senate President.
Some few schemers hoping to also unseat the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other principal officers of the Senate in the event of an unfavourable judgment for the Senate President were also making their moves. But their efforts were yet to make a breakthrough.
The Senate proceeded on its yearly recess on July 10 having brought the scheduled recess from July 25 by two weeks. The decision was largely interpreted as a move by supporters of Senator Mark to forestall any attempt at getting another choice as Senate President in the event today's decision is against Mark.
Contrary to the longstanding tradition, Senators who went on recess last Thursday have suspended their plans for travels out of the country on holiday. Indeed by yesterday those who travelled out of Abuja were congregating in Abuja for possible political manouevre that may flow from the judgment.
A number of the Senators who were spoken to yesterday cited outstanding Senate commitments for their presence in Abuja, though a couple disclosed plans to go to Jos in solidarity with Senator Mark for the judgment.
As many as six Senators from the North-Central are believed to be eyeing the job of the Senate President in the event of an unfavourable judgment, despite the hopeful enthusiasm of supporters of the Senate President that the Court of Appeal would upturn the judgment of the lower tribunal whose ruling invalidated the election of Senator Mark as Senator representing the Benue South senatorial district.
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We in obudu sympathise with former Governor of Cross River State Liyel Imoke, we are on the lefthand happy with hope that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State Francis Adah will hear our cry. Especially that we are his brothers from same Local Government with strong cultural bindings.
The Ranch Communities have been enslaved and in continuous crisis since June 2002 when a divide and rule South African (Mr. Hans W. Bucher) was brought to manage the Obudu Ranch Resort, our only source of survival to date.Series of Letters and peaceful demonstrations have been carried on but to no avail.
Our redeemer is near.
From kejikwu Aena Obudu Ranch Cross River State