The Federal Government has directed the speakers of the five states Houses of Assembly whose governors were sacked today by a pronouncement of the Supreme Court to take over the running of their states.
The Federal Government in a statement by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke, said it has taken note of the judgement and was going to act accordingly.
The position of the Federal Government has thus nullified the step taken in Kogi State with the swearing-in of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last gubernatorial election in the state, Captain Idris Wada.
Wada was inaugurated by the President of the state’s Customary Court, Ibrahim Shaibu.
Adoke’s statement reads: “Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered judgment in the appeal emanating from the judgement of the Court of Appeal in respect of the tenure of the five governors namely Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto and Kogi states. The Court decided that the five governors had since completed their tenure and accordingly relieved them of their office.
“The Federal Government acknowledges the judgement of the Supreme Court and in line with the provisions of Section 191(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, calls on the Honourable Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly of the affected states to take over the governance of their respective states pending the conduct of fresh governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The Inspector-General of Police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to put in place, appropriate security measures to ensure orderly transition and to avoid any breach of the peace.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the observance of the rule of law in all parts of the federation and therefore calls on the political leadership in the affected states to give full effect to the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”