The Adamawa State acting governor, Umar Fintiri, has said he will appeal his removal by a federal court.
Mr. Fintiri said he has asked his lawyer to appeal the decision immediately, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
A federal High Court in Abuja had ordered Mr. Fintiri to vacate office and that the deputy governor of the ousted former governor, Murtala Nyako, be sworn in immediately to complete the tenure of Mr, Nyako.
The court said the deputy, Bala Ngillari, who was said to have resigned, is the rightful governor of the troubled state.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stop Saturday’s governorship bye election in Adamawa state.
The court’s judgement follows a suit instituted by Mr. Ngillari praying the court to declare him governor on the grounds that his resignation letter which he forwarded to the speaker of the state Assembly on the eve of the impeachment of Governor Nyako, was null and void.
Mr. Ngillari’s request is based on constitutional requirement that a deputy governor can only resign by submitting his letter of resignation to the governor.
It is however not clear whether Mr. Fintiri is vacating the office as directed by the court in the light of his appeal.