Don faults planned supplementary guber election in Imo

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA-A Professor of Law, Chidi Odinkalu, yesterday, expressed worries over the scheduled May 6 supplementary gubernatorial election in Imo State, saying it would render section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution nugatory.

The legal pundit maintained that except the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, secured an amendment to the aforementioned section, planned supplementary governorship election in Imo State might amount to a nullity in the eyes of the law and thus null and void ab-initio.

Specifically, section 178(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended provides that, “(a) n election to the office of Governor of a State shall be held on a date not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.”

Consequently, Prof Odinkalu, through a statement yesterday, contended that since Governor Ikedi Ohakim would vacate office by May 29, any gubernatorial election held in Imo State less than the stipulated 30 days, will be illegal and unconstitutional.

According to him, “in ordering supplementary elections to take place on May 6 in four out of 27 local government areas in Imo State, following what it described as “inconclusive elections” for the office of governor in Imo State on April 26, Prof Attahiru Jega’s INEC will be manifestly acting contrary to law and without lawful authority or justification.