Following the removal of five governors by the Supreme Court on Friday, the  battle to reclaim rulership of Kogi. and Bayelsa states may shift to the apex court this week.

Investigations by Sunday Tribune confirmed that while the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is crucial in the two states, the final decision would rest with the apex court.

A source said that factions loyal to Captain Idris Wada and Jubril Isah in Kogi State are carefully watching developments in the state.

It was also learnt that while the camp of Captain Wada, who emerged the governor-elect in December, is moving to secure the nod of the Supreme Court to get a consequential order which could return him to the governor's seat, the camp of Isah is also watching carefully.

“All contenders are watching the INEC carefully. Pronouncements by INEC will dictate the direction of things. With the ruling, the camp of Isah belives that the primary of January that produced him is the right one for the election,” a source stated.

As for  Bayelsa, a source said party supremacy would be a factor in determining who picks the ticket.

“I don't think INEC should have problems in Bayelsa. It published the name of a candidate and if that is the case, it could go ahead and fix a convenient date for the election. The party reserves the right to decide its candidate and that should not poise problems to INEC,” another source stated.

It was learnt that one of the forces in Kogi will immediately head for the Supreme Court, if INEC takes any step seen as contrary.

Forces loyal to the removed governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, were also said to be seeking to get the Supreme Court announce the former governor the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, winner of the January 2011 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Isah, has hailed the judgment of the apex court which set aside the decision of the lower court that had earlier extended the tenure of the governors beyond May 29, 2011.

Reacting through his Consultant on Public Communication and Strategy, Phrank Shaibu, Idris described the ruling as a “cast-iron victory for truth and a clear-cut expression of the electoral wishes of Kogi people and Nigerians”.

”I congratulate all the members of the justices for their courage and honesty which are the pillars and hallmarks of the rule of law.

“I am proud of the courageous judgment. The truth and electoral wishes of the people have finally triumphed.

“We give kudos to our modern-day Daniels. We are set for fresh elections as may be ordered within 90 days.

“This has, indeed, strenghted our position as the authentic and validly-nominated candidate of the PDP,” he said.

In another development, the state  acting governor, Honourable  Abdullahi Bello, has promised to take the state to the next level.

In a statewide broadcast to the people of the state on Saturday, he sympathised with the people on the recent fuel price hike, promising to work out palliative measures,in line with the directives of the Federal Government.

He gave the assurance that he would complete all projects initiated by the immediate-past administration.

He  also commended the judiciary for being alive to its responsibilities by putting democracy on sound footing,  even as he promised to consolidate on the gains recorded by the immediate-past administration.

He stressed the need for the people to work collectively “for rapid transformation of the state.”

He posited that the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court had lend credence to the confidence Nigerians had in the judiciary.

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None Courageous Judgement.
written by Adisa Adigun, January 29, 2012

This judgement is a judgement of honesty and truth that will consolidate Nigeria evolving democracy. It set a precedent for the lower court to refer to on how to deal with corrupt politicians who uses sorrogate opponent to challenge their election as a way to enlogate their tenure and stay in governors office. Usually the oppositions that challenges the election are planted by the governor whose election is challeged knowing fully well that the judgement will come at the tail end of a four year term resulting in a new illegal four year term. Nigeria judiciary who are covert members of the gorvernor's political party usualy rules in favor of the sit tight governor. This judgement can not however be described as courageous because it came too late. In George Bush versus Algore, where Algore won the majority vote and the electoral college result which determine who occupies the U.S presidency was deadluck and there were rumors of irregularities in the Florida State electoral process where George Bush little brother the governor. Both the emocratic party and the Republican party approached the U.S supreme court for an answer which was badly needed because Florida is a "Win All" state, meaning who ever win Florida majority vote also wins Frorida Electoral college. The U.S supreme court judgement came in seven days and George Bush,Jnr was declared the New elected president. The judgent does not take fifteen months as in this case by the Nigerian Supreme court after the challenged governors have completed their enlogated tenure and in some case, a new governor had been rigged in by the incubent from the same part as probably in Kogi State. Even though the incubent chief justice of Nigeria accuses the state governors of manipulating their state judiciary in their favor, It looks to me that same goes for the Nigeria supreme court judges being manipulated by the Federal goverment. It goes like this, Mr. Chief Justice, If you have to rule against my party, please do it at the end of our term and the CJ answers the president, "Yes Mr. President". Otherwise can the CJ explain to Nigerians why the judgement in the Sokoto State gubernatoral challenge was put of many times and never answered until now beign partially resolved and included in this term enlogation jugent. Nigeria Supreme court judges have to remember that justice delayed is justice denied. The timing of this judgement is creating more confusion than solution. Whar happens now in Kogi?

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