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AGAINST the speculation that the
Kogi State Governorship election would rule after the Sallah
celebration, the legally constituted judicial body took the
Counsels, the press and other stakeholders unawares last Tuesday
when it gave the epoch making judgement in favour of Governor
Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State.
The Graphic gathered that the Tribunal hinted the state Police
Commissioner on Monday that it should put security arrangements in
place as it had concluded arrangements to give its verdict.
To avoid the leakage of its ruling, Justice Abdullahi-Yusuf-led
Tribunal tactically restrained itself from typing the text of the
judgement before the verdict.
The Graphic tathered that Counsels to both parties were informed
barely 24 hours before the ruling which lasted 2 hours 45 minutes.
By 5.30 a.m on Monday, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibezhimako
Aghanya, had put hundreds of policemen at NATACO, Kabba-Okene
junction and all strategic locations on alert to forestall any
breakdown of law and order.
Many politicians were surprised when they started receiving calls on
Tuesday morning that the long-awaited judgement would take place at
9a.m.
Even The Graphic Newspaper carried on its cover for the week that
the ruling was likely going to be after the Sallah break.
The roads leading to the High Court premises were heavily guarded by
joint police/military personnel.
The Graphic gathered that the resolve of members of Tribunal to take
stakeholders unaware was a deliberate security measure to stop
miscreants from fanning embers of violences.
Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has
congratulated Governor Ibrahim Idris on affirmation of his mandate
at Governorship Election Tribunal.
He also felicitated with the people of Kogi State on their resolve
to sustain the peaceful climate after the affirmation of the
mandate.
He said the ruling in favour of Governor Ibrahim Idris provided an
avenue for the people of the state to forge ahead with the
developmental needs of the state.
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