The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will, barring any change in its schedule, meet on Monday to adopt a position on the Supreme Court judgement that sacked five state governors on account of expiration of their terms On May 29, 2011.
A source in the Commission told The Eagle Online that the meeting on Monday will be between the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, and national commissioners of the commission.
It would be recalled that INEC said on Friday, on the heels of the Supreme Court judgement, that it would make its position on the judgement known at a later date.
When our correspondent prompted the source, who is one of the national commissioners, what position INEC would likely adopt after the Monday meeting, he simply retorted: “All I know is that we are adopting a position on Monday after a meeting between the national chairman and his national commissioners.
“And that position will depend heavily on the advice the legal department gives in respect of the Supreme Court verdict.
“So, I do not know, first hand, what the position could look like.”
The governors asked to vacate their seats were those of Bayelsa State, Timi Sylva; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko; Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; and Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris.
Among the five, only Idris has served the maximum two terms of four years approved by the 1999 Constitution.
Speakers of the state Houses of Assembly in the five states have been sworn-in as acting governors pending when INEC will conduct fresh elections.