Princewill Odidi|24 November 2015|6:30am
In 2007, the Supreme Court of Nigeria was right in the judgment to nullify the election of Mr. Celestine
Omehia as the governor of Rivers State in Southern Nigeria, and to install the former Speaker of the
state House of Assembly, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the new governor of the state.
The thinking of the court then was that the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) erred in law by the selection of Mr. Celestine Omehia to contest for the office of governor. However, the court went on to press on the installation of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi who never contested the gubernatorial election and he
became a sitting Governor without standing for a general election.
The thinking then was that it was
the party that won the election and not necessarily the individual. I am a lawyer. Who am I to say the
Supreme Court erred in law?
Alas, history repeats itself with the death of Prince Abubarkar Audu. Why is INEC acting confused? Please, follow legal precedents. Continue with the elections in wards that were inconclusive. Whether Audu is dead or alive is of no consequence, after all, it is the party that wins and not the individual.
Again, I am not an attorney so I stand to be corrected. What do you think?
Princewill Odidi
Is an Atlanta Based Development Consultant
