The reprieve that came the way of the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Idris Wada, with the Supreme Court ruling of penultimate week, which nullified the challenge posed to his candidacy by his arch rival, Alhaji Jibrin Isa, is currently being threatened as fresh posers as to the legality of his continued stay in the Government House in Lokoja allegedly without an election have been thrown up.
The emerging argument by some elders in the state is that Governor Wada is allegedly more of an impostor in the Government House than a legitimate occupant of the exalted office, as he was not legitimately elected in an election ordered to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) via a Supreme Court ruling of January 27, 2012.
The elders under the aegis of Kogi Justice Forum (KJF) recalled the Supreme Court ruling of January 27, 2012, which had declared a nullity the tenure elongation in five states of Sokoto, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River and Kogi and ordered fresh elections to be held by INEC, while the Speakers of the State Assemblies in the affected states were ordered to be sworn-in, pending the election.
They contend that five Speakers indeed were sworn-in the same day of the judgment including that of Kogi State, who was sworn-in by the State Chief Justice to take over the reins of government albeit temporarily, pending when elections would be conducted and substantive governors emerge.
The elders told newsmen that the Kogi case played out differently as the speaker was not to sit in the exalted office even for one day.
“He met a brick wall when he was confronted with a bizarre occurrence with the swearing-in of Wada as governor the same day by a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal in what was seen as outright contravention of constitutional provisions and was allegedly escorted to the seat of power by heavily armed personnel.
“That notwithstanding, INEC did comply with the Supreme Court order to conduct fresh elections, but it did so in only four states which are Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River and Sokoto. There was no election in Kogi in alleged defiance of the apex court ruling, ordering elections to be held in the five states,” they argued in documents made available to newsmen.
The forum made bold to declare that Wada is an impostor who is occupying the Government House in Lokoja illegally. The association through its convener, Ibrahim Ineku not only cried out over the illegality, but also vowed to ensure the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling by any legal and constitutional means.
They contend that the only option is for a fresh election as ordered by the Supreme Court and for INEC to comply forthwith.
“What can be deduced in the prevailing circumstance is that Kogi is being illegally governed by a usurper. It is an illegality that a governor not known in law is occupying the Government House in Lokoja, which will not be acceptable to the people of the state,” Ineku said.
