The Supreme Court this morning in a unanimous decision has sacked the governors of 5 states seeking to elongate their tenure.

The lead judgment delivered by Walter Onnoghen which lasted for about 45 minutes effectively sacked the affected governors immediately. According to the Apex court, the governors' tenures ended on May 29, 2011.

"Time fixed by the Constitution for doing anything cannot be elongated or extended. To extend tenure is contrary to common sense and the clear intentions of the framers of the Constitution," Justice Onnoghen held.

The affected governors are Admiral Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi state, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto state, Liyel Imoke of Cross River state and Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa state.

The issue for determination before the apex court had been to "which is the extant Oath of Office and Allegiance: that of May 29, 2007 or the fresh Oath which the five affected governors took at various times in 2008."

Going by their fresh oaths, Nyako started his tenure 30 April 2008, Idris on 5 April 2008, Wammakko on 28 May 2008, Liyel Imoke on 28 August 2008 and Timipre Sylva on 29 May 2008 rather than 29 May 2007.

Going by this judgment, the governors have all overstayed their terms as governors by 8 months.