Wada’s stay as governor a slap on rule of lawWada’s stay as governor a slap on rule of law

There is a fresh plot to unseat Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.

A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyebode Makinde has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammad Adoke (SAN) to ask Wada to vacate office.

In a letter by his counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) and addressed to the A-GF, Makinde said by virtue of a decision of the Supreme Court which dismissed an application by the PDP, Wada cannot continue to function as governor.

The party had approached the apex court for a consequential order, declaring Wada as governor in waiting as at the time the judgment on tenure elongation of five governors was delivered.

The application was a follow up to the apex court’s January 27 judgment in which it declared that the tenure of five governors had expired since May 28, last year.

Affected by the judgment were Governors Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Liyel Imoke (Cross-River), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

Shortly after the judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) issued a statement directing that the states’ Speakers should be sworn in as acting governors.

Although the Kogi Speaker was sworn in as acting governor by the  Chief Judge, Wada was also on the same day sworn in by the President of the Customary Court of Appeal as governor.

Following the intervention of the presidency, Wada took his seat as the governor.

The Speaker was asked to quit as acting governor.

But the seven-member panel chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher, however said it had become functus officio and lacked the power to make pronouncement on the case again.

The apex court consequently dismissed the motion.

In the February 23 letter to the A-GF, Iziyon said: “We make bold to say that the effect of the dismissal of the application by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is that this issue cannot be relitigated any where before any Court or  tribunal forever and ever. 

He went on: “On the above premises, our stand is that by virtue of the said ruling, it means the prayers to recognise Alhaji Idris Wada as Governor of Kogi State, who was claimed to be the governor in waiting when appeal was pending at the Supreme Court and was not afrfected by the consequential Orde r 27/1/12 was not granted as same was dismissed. It stands to reason that Alhaji Idris Wada cannot continue to function over the affairs of Kogi State, as Governor. Indeed it was clear nobody brought this before the Supreme Court either Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that election had been conducted in Kogi State while the appeal was pending before judgment.

“We are not unmindful of the suit before the Federal High Court but suffice to point put that the ruling of the Supreme Court which dismissed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaves no one in doubt that he cannot continue to function. It is by no means dabbling into a matter that is subjudiced. It is clear matter for enforcement in the circumstances.

“It is in the light of the above that we call on you as the Chief law Officer that Alhaji Idris Wada be asked to vacate his continued stay in office forthwith. His continued stay in office as Governor of Kogi State is a slap on the rule of Law and due process and this impunity must not be allowed”, Iziyon added.

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Wada’s stay as governor a slap on rule of lawWada’s stay as governor a slap on rule of law