By Hamilton Nwosa, Head, The New Diplomat’s Poll Tracking Desk
With just a few hours to the Supreme Court ruling on the governorship elections in Sokoto and Imo States, tension-soaked atmosphere have enveloped both States. The anxiety among residents of both Imo and Sokoto States have become very worrisome to some, a development that allegedly prompted the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) to deploy 1,000 officers and men across Sokoto State earlier today. The State Police Command said the deployment of about 1,000 officers and men across the state is to help maintain peace, law and order.
According to the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaojo the measure is to ensure peace and public safety. The Commissioner of Police who advised all residents to go about their lawful duties, stressed that lawful residents have nothing to fear.
He added: “We are on 24-hour alert and we are on stand-by round the clock. We will leave no stone unturned in keeping the state safe and secure as all law abiding residents are to conduct their lawful business.”
Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu had gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld the election of Governor Aminu Tambuwal in November 2019. In upholding the election of Tambuwal, the Court of Appeal had ruled that Tambuwal as duly elected Governor of the Sokoto state.
The four-man panel led by Justice Hussein Mukhtar had in a unanimous judgment dismissed the Appeal filed by the APC and its governorship candidate on grounds of lack of merit. But APC legal team headed by Mr Jodi unmpressed with the Appeal Court ruling headed straight to the apex court for a final adjudication on the matter.
The APC legal team had premised its position on its decision to approach the Supreme Court on the following ground: “Legally, the battle has just begun and there is no cause for alarm. We have very strong reasons to appeal this judgment to the Supreme Court. With the help of the Almighty Allah, we are optimistic that, we will in Sha Allahu succeed at the end.” Similarly, the APC Leader in Sokoto state, Aliyu Wamakko, a ranking senator, while addressing APC supporters had supported the position of its party legal team, while calling for calm and peace in the State.
Similarly, in Imo State concern among residents of the State particularly, in government circles have continued to escalate as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the governorship election Monday. The New Diplomat gathered that there is concern as residents wait for the ruling of the Supreme Court concerning the state’s governorship election. For both the APC and PDP supporters, there have been no love lost. Both camps have been sounding war drums.
It has essentially been a titanic battle between Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC and Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP. Both APC and PDP supporters are optimistic of victory.
The APC’s optimism is said to have been re-inforced by the prediction of Rev Father Ejike Mbaka who predicted recently that Uzodinma would assume leadership of the state from the incumbent PDP-led government led by Governor Ihedioha but with a caveat. Mbaka who said he could not put his fingers on how his prophesy would happen provoked criticism from PDP supporters. PDP supporters were quite unhappy with the Cleric’s statement and criticized him in very strong terms, accusing him of being an unrealistic prophet.
