State Attorney General Faults Delay In Supreme Court Verdict

EBONYI State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, has expressed regret that the Supreme Court judgment on the tenure of governors did not come earlier, saying the fuss being generated by the landmark judgment in certain states would have been eliminated.Igwenyi commended the ruling, stressing that it has put to rest 'anxieties, arguments and antagonisms' that trailed beneficiaries of re-run governorship polls in the five affected states after the flawed 2007 election.He noted that while the Appeal Court tackled the matter socially, the apex court gave a thorough legal interpretation, based on the Constitution.The Ebonyi AG, who is also an Associate Professor in Law, faulted Kanu Agabi's position that it is erroneous to swear in Speakers of Houses of Assembly of affected states, arguing that the former Attorney General of the Federation is bringing extraneous issues to the Constitution, since according to him, the 1999 Constitution clearly stipulated that a Speaker should take over.Stressing that the landmark pronouncement has finally addressed the issue of tenure in re-run election, Igwenyi expressed hope that the judgment would help the country achieve good governance by ensuring that the law rules at all times and that fraud should not be rewarded.'I commend the Supreme Court for this judgment; the pronouncement has finally put to rest the contentious issue of tenure elongation for governors that won rerun elections.' Unlike the Governor Peter Obi instance, the Supreme Court has held that the date of swearing in before annulment counts since you cannot disannul the actions taken by the governor before the election was quashed.'It is only when the rerun produces a fresh occupant that he can enjoy four full years from the date of swearing in as provided by the Constitution.
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