BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
APPARENTLY shocked by the Supreme Court judgment that sacked five governors including Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, the 18 Local Council Chairmen weekend  embarked on solidarity rally in support of Imoke’s re-election.

Speaking during the rally, Mr. Legor Idagbor, chairman of Bekwarra Local Council said: “We have matched to Governor’s office and PDP secretariat to register our total support and to know the fate of our candidate, Senator Liyel Imoke as regards the Supreme Court ruling.

. Imoke

“All the 18 local government chairmen are all here and we have vowed to move into all villages, wards and local government areas to canvass and mobilize support for our sole candidate because judgment or no judgment, Imoke is the only one we know and there is no going back. We enjoin all democrats to come out en mass and mobilize for the second coming of Senator Imoke because he has done a lot for us and now is the time to rally round and enthrone good governance.”

Also speaking, Mr. Stephen Asuquo, Chairman of Odukpani Local Council said there was need for them to give all necessary support to Imoke because his first four years had brought development to all corners of the state.  “We are here to consolidate our support for him to show him that we are with him,” he added

Chairman of Biase Local Government Area, Dr Emil Inyang, said they were not happy with the ruling but that they did not have any other option than to show Imoke solidarity and love.

He said, “we have just heard the development and we are not happy, so we are here to show solidarity to our governor. Thank God he is our candidate for the next election, we are solidly behind him.”

Speaking while receiving the council chairmen, the State Chairman of PDP, Ntufam Ekpo Okon said, “the judgment of Cross River State will be the ultimate, but let me say something, perhaps you have forgotten, Senator Imoke had never won any election as a sitting governor.

“In 2007 when he won, was he a governor? When his election was annulled and he won again, was he a sitting governor, why do you think it will be different? Let us prepare ourselves to go and give him a judgment that is beyond any court, which is the mandate,” he said.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail the Supreme Court ruling in Cross River State.

Ruling PDP Chairman, Okon, said the judgment was absurd and confusing especially as the Appeal Court that nullified Imoke’s election and ordered for re-run was a court of competent jurisdiction.

Addressing some protesters who had condemned the judgment at the PDP Secretariat, the Ntufam Okon said “and as law abiding people we will abide by that judgment even though we feel very pained,” adding that “I consider it as an absurdity.”

He asked party faithful not to worry but get back to the field saying if the election should hold on April 14, 2012 as scheduled by INEC, the people of the state would speak again and the judgment of the people would be the ultimate judgment.

But the State Chairman of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and the Governorship Candidate of the party, Dr. Theo Onyuku, described the judgment as historic. “This is an unprecedented judgment. This is a victorious judgment. This is a judgment delivered by God through the Supreme Court Judges. This is memorable, ground breaking and earth_shaking judgment.

“It has clearly justified our position against the unacceptable judgment of both the High Court and Court of Appeal in February and April 2011 respectively. We are finally victorious because we had vehemently and clearly insisted that the tenure elongation given the five PDP governors is mostly illegal, unlawful, baseless, unconstitutional and repugnant to justice, equity, fair play and fairness.”

Senate Leader, Chief Victor Ndoma_Egba, SAN, said that the Supreme Court judgment was final and that the party accepted it in good faith. He said that as a politician, he had his reservation because it was believed that staggering election would reduce pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as enhance security.

A Calabar-based radical lawyer, Mr. Utum Eteng, said from the on set, the tenure elongation was a nullity and expressed happiness that the Supreme Court had corrected the wrongs. “Legal position has always been like that and null action remains a null action for all purposes and at all times.”

He expressed fears that the PDP might have problems if it presents Imoke to stand the governorship election reasoning that even if he wins, it would be a matter of litigation as he had taken oath of office two times.

Deputy Secretary of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, described the judgment as a monumental judgment in the annals of Nigerian constitutional issues.

“I think the Supreme Court was worried that the governor elected for four years stayed more than four years,” he said, stressing that before the election was nullified, the governor appointed special advisers, commissioners and took decisions on behalf of the state and also collected salaries.

Coordinator of Southern Senatorial Councilors Forum, Chief Esien Ekpenyong, said that the judiciary should be commended for the judgment and that it was keeping the hope of the common man alive, adding that the judgment should be a catalyst that would strengthen the party and its membership in the state. Also reacting to the judgment, Chairman of Supreme Coalition, Cross River Initiation, a political group made up of over 100 political associations and non governmental organizations, Mr. Edet Asia, said that though  he received the judgment as a surprise, it would not change theitical situation in Cross River State.

He said in an event of any election in the state between Imoke and any other candidate irrespective of any political platform, Imoke would  win.