Sandy vs Otu: Tension Mounts As Cross Riverians Await Supreme Court Verdict
By Ndifreke BASSEY
There is palpable tension among political stakeholders and other Cross Riverians as they await the verdict of Supreme Court in a suit between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Sen. Bassey Otu.
Prof Sandy Onor is seeking to upturn the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election result in his favour.
The PDP candidate has approached the Tribunal immediately after INEC declared Otu winner and subsequently sworn-in on May 29,2023 to take over from Senator Ben Ayade
Onor alleged that Otu does not possess the prerequisite qualification to contest the election, claiming his West African School Certificate and degree certificates were forged.
He also claimed Otu’s running mate, Mr Odey, has United Kingdom (UK) citizenship,arguing that the dual citizenship status contravened the Nigerian constitution,Electoral Act and preclude him from contesting or holding elective position.
At the lower Tribuna, the 3 -man panel had ruled in favour of Otu and Odey on the matter. All the three judges, Justice Okenya Inneh, Justice M Omar and Justice O Olatawusu, read their judgment in favour of Otu. The tribunal did not award costs.
But not satisfied, Prof. Sandy proceeded to the Appeal Court, Lagos Division where Onor again lost the matter as the Court awarded N4m in favour of the defendants.
Again, not satisfied, Onor took the matter to the Supreme Court and sources close to THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that the Apex Court had fixed Thursday, January 11, 2024 for both parties (counsels) to address the Court.
So far, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governors of Abia, Enugu and Lagos as winners of the March 18 governorship election.
However, ahead of the Supreme Court, there is tension among the APC and PDP leadership, stalwarts, supporters and citizens over the outcome of the matter.
Some party chieftains in both APC and PDP, who spoke off record, said they were apprehensive as to the outcome, saying "Please we are not in a good mood to talk on this matter.
"This Supreme Court is the last stage and one has to pray very hard so that it can favour us. Let us just wait."
However, investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS showed that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999 and 2019, not less than eight sitting governors whose elections were challenged to the Supreme Court were removed from office by the Apex Court.
Governors removed form office by the Apex court include Dr Chris Ngige (Anambra) in 2006 who was declared winner of the 2003 governorship election in Anambra State. Ngige was removed at the tail end of his four years in office and was replaced by Mr Peter Obi of APGA. Peter Obi was eventually sworn in on March 17, 2006.
Also, the Apex Court, in October, 2007, sacked Chief Celestine Omehia who was sworn into office on May 29, 2007 as Rivers State Governor and ordered the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to be sworn-in as replacement having been found to be the authentic candidate of the PDP which was returned as winner of the April 2007 election in the state.
Omehia had ruled Rivers for five months before the Supreme Court sacked him and declared Amaechi as the validly elected governor of the state.
Other Governors Supreme Court sacked included Andy Uba of Anambra State replaced with Peter Obi again, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor of Edo State replaced Adams Oshiomhole; Olusegun Oni of Ekiti State replaced Kayode Fayemi; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State replaced with Rauf Aregbesola; Mukhtar Idris of Zamfara State replaced with Bello Matawalle, Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State replaced with Hope Uzodinma and David Lyon of Bayelsa State replaced with Douye Diri.
