Tension in political camps as Kogi awaits Supreme Court’s judgment

Palpable fear and tension have gripped the various political camps in Kogi State as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver judgment on the state governorship election.

Already, the major political gladiators in the state, including Governor Yahaya Bello, have moved to Abuja preparatory to Tuesday’s judgment day.

Aside this, security agencies in the state like the Nigeria Police, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mobilised to ensure adequate security in major towns of the state ahead of the day.

However, the three major parties to the case on Friday were confident of victory at the apex court.

Bello, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkareem, said he was not shaken by the impending judgment.

He said: “We are not shaken, we know that the rule of law will take its course. God willing, we are set to make legal record that will become a precedence. The Nigerian legal system is developing and we are happy that our case is adding impetus to the Nigerian judiciary.”

He said the governor’s camp was not in any way jittery over the judgment as no different issue had been raised by the appellants.

On the governor relocating to Abuja, he said, “it is not true that the entire government machinery moved to Abuja. It is usual that when the governor is out of town, a few officials are with him. He is working; he has been attending meetings. So it is not true that he is in Abuja because of the judgment.”

But the immediate past governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada, said he expected to win the case when the judges of the apex court sit on the suit on Tuesday.

Speaking through his Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, the former governor said he had always had belief in the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court.

He said, “We expect to win the case; we have always had confidence in the judiciary and we kept advancing to the last stage. That is why we are at the Supreme Court. The judiciary is the ultimate for the common man.

“The framers of the constitution are aware that at every stage of the case, newer interpretations will come up. We believe that the Supreme Court will look deeper into the case, particularly with the minority judgment.”

“Whatever decision taken will deepen democracy as the case is novel, it will be a landmark judgment, we have confidence in the independence of the Supreme Court”.