The Federal Government on Wednesday directed the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to immediately swear in Mr. James Ngilari as the state governor in obedience to a judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja.
The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, had nullified the swearing in of Ahmadu Fintiri as the state Acting Governor while declaring the resignation of Ngilari as unconstitutional, null and void.
The Federal Government’s directive on Ngilari’s inauguration was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Adedeji Ajibade, made available to State House correspondents.
It said the inauguration became necessary in order to avoid a vacuum in governance in the state.
The government also directed the National Independent Electoral Commission to put on hold Saturday’s planned bye-election in obedience to the judgement.
The statement reads, “The attention of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, delivered by Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola on 8th October 2014.
“The Federal High Court by its judgement under reference nullified the swearing in of Ahmadu Umar Fintiri as the Acting Governor of Adamawa State and declared the resignation of James Bala Ngilari as unconstitutional, null and void.
“In obedience to the judgement of the court and the need to avert a vacuum in governance and possible constitutional crises, the Honourable, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, hereby calls on the Chief Judge of Adamawa State to immediately swear in Barrister James Bala Ngilari as the Governor of Adamawa State.
“The Chairman, National Independent Electoral Commission is also called upon in obedience to the judgement of the Federal High Court to keep in abeyance all the arrangements made for the conduct of the bye-elections scheduled to take place in Adamawa State on Saturday 11th October 2014.”
Meanwhile, the grand finale of Fintiri’s governorship campaign rally earlier fixed for Thursday will no longer hold as a result of the development.
Before the development, Fintiri, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the cancelled bye-election had concluded plans to hold a rally in Yola.
Some of the dignitaries who were to attend the rally were already in the state capital.
