judgment read by Justice Walter Onnoghen, the seven-member Supreme Court panel ruled that the tenure of the five Governors expired last year (May 2011) and declared their offices vacant. The Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the five states took over as acting governors, pending the conduct of fresh elections in the states.
Acting governor of Kogi State, Abdullahi Bello has debunked news reports that he has relinquished the position for the governor-elect, Idris Wada. And he has promptly demonstrated that he is at the helms by announcing the sack of the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff and all other political appointees of their appointments “with immediate effect”.
In a statement today, the acting governor said the rumour was ‘’ a calculated plot to destabilise and cause a breach of peace in the state.”
He said it was untrue, unimaginable and totally unfounded and urged the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities.
‘’Government wishes to place on record that, the position of an Acting Governor is not a creation of any form of political conjecture but a product of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Government wishes to state further that the Acting Governor was administered with the oath of office by the Chief Judge of Kogi State on the 27/01/2012, in line with the letters of the constitution.
“Government wishes to assure the people of Kogi State that the Acting Governor will not submit himself to any act that will be deemed to be an affront on the constitution to the Republic of Nigeria.”
Acting Governor Bello told the sacked political appointees to hand over all government properties in their possession to the Permanent Secretary or the most senior staff in their respective ministries or departments.
Bello was sworn in Friday by the state chief judge following the Supreme Court judgement that former Governor Idris Ibrahim and four other governors had spent more time than the constitution allowed.
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