By George Onah

Port Harcourt— The Action Congres, AC,  in Cross River State has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for elongating the tenure of the state Governor,  Senator Lyel Imoke, following the nullification and re-election of the Governor.

AC in the suit is contending that it will amount to injustice to add an additional year to Imoke’s tenure, when in fact the reason for the annulment of the election was traced to the illegality of the Governor’s party and followers.

According to the AC,  it will be unjust for Imoke to stay for a year longer,  when he carried out the duties of a Governor and earned his salary and emolument during the period and was not asked to refund same.

Also joined in the suit  as defendants are Governor Imoke and  Attorney-General of the Federation. AC is contending that  all the appointments made by Imoke were not reversed or cancelled.

“The Court of Appeal, Calabar Division, found in CA/C/NAEA/23/2008 that the governorship election of April 14 2007 in Cross River State was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act.

“It was the activities of the supporters of Imoke and those of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  that tainted the election which the court nullified,” AC argued, adding that “it will therefore be unjust to allow the Governor to benefit from infractions fuelled by his men by staying an extra year in office.

“Your lordship will agree that allowing the Governor to enjoy an extra year in office as boasted by his lawyer, will be akin to allowing a thief to keep a stolen item even after his/her guilt had been established,” the party further argued.