Sack of 5 govs: We accept S/Court judgment – PDP

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By Henry Umoru (Vanguard News)

ABUJA – THE National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Friday, described the unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court which sacked its five governors as a welcome development and an acceptable verdict.

Speaking with Vanguard  on the ruling, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke who noted that the party had expected that the judgement would have been otherwise, stressed that as the final court of the land, the ruling of the apex court was not questionable.

The PDP however maintained that the emergence of Henry Seriake Dickson as the candidate for Bayelsa State; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sokoto; Murtala Nyako for Adamawa and Liyel Imoke of Cross River remain unchanged, just as the party boasted that it was fully mobilized for the elections fixed in these states by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Oke who called for the immediate swearing in of the governor-elect of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada and his Deputy, Architect Yomi Awoniyi, however urged INEC to scrupulously follow its time table for the election in these states.

It would be recalled that INEC came up with a time table to conduct election in Adawawa State, February 4; Bayelsa State, February 11; Sokoto state, March 10 and Cross River State, April 14.

According to Oke, ‘’we accept the verdict in good faith even though we thought the Judgment could have been otherwise. As the final court of the land, the decision of Supreme Court is unquestionable; what this means to us is that the governor-elect of Kogi State should be inaugurated immediately while INEC should scrupulously follow its time for the conduct of election in other states.

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Jubilation in Yenagoa as Police seal Govt House

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By Samuel Oyadongha (Vanguard News)

Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital, Friday, erupted in celebration as the news of the ouster of Governor Timipre Sylva by the Supreme Court hit the airwaves.

Jubilation in Yenagoa

Immediately, the police authorities sealed off the Creek Haven Government House, in Bayelsa State ostensibly to prevent looting of the place.

Heavily armed policemen barricaded the Onopa end of the  Mbiama-Yenagoa road leading to the Government House  and it was closed to traffic.

When Vanguard visited the area armed  policemen were sighted diverting traffic to the Lambert Eradiri road connecting the DSP Alamieyeseigha way to other parts of Yenagoa.

Armed policemen were also deployed around the Peace Park, directly opposite the Government House, stopping visitors from gaining entry into the amusement park.

It was jubilation galore at the popular Swali  Market and other parts of Yenagoa as traders and residents chanted songs to celebrate the exit of Governor Timipre Sylva.

Most of the pubs and other relaxation joints witnessed heavy turn-out of customers as many stormed the beer parlours, reveling over the court verdict.

As at press time, the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri was yet to  swear in the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Nestor Binabor allegedly awaiting a certified copy of the court ruling.

It was gathered that a helicopter had already been despatched to Abuja to get the certified copies of the apex court ruling.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mr Hilary Opara, in an interview with newsmen said “Bayelsans should remain calm and law abiding. The government belongs to the people. If there is any change of leadership, a Bayelsan is going to be there”.

On the planned swearing-in ceremony of the Speaker, Hon Nestor Binabo as the Acting Governor, the police commissioner said, “The Chief Judge, Kate Abiri said she was waiting for directives from Abuja. I told her that anytime she is cleared with the directive, she should let us know so that we can discharge our responsibility of providing effective security”.

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