Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. the Governor of Abia State had the challenge of his first election success resolved in his favor at the Supreme Court.
Not long afterward there was a Judgement of Okon Abang J of the Federal High Court flowing from a pre-election matter instituted by Uche Ogah now a Minister which sacked him as Governor for tax-related issues.
It took a reversal on appeal against the decision to spare the Governor from embarrassment.
Yesterday in a similar fashion, David Lyon of APC is the latest casualty, his gory fate predicated on the misdemeanor of his deputy said to have submitted forged credentials to INEC.
This is a pre election matter like Ogah vs Ikpeazu, it ended up annihilating Mr. Lyon who got the shocker as he was rehearsing for his swearing-in today!
The challenge of his election at the Tribunal has since been resolved in his favor, reportedly Hon. Lokpobiris' appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court. This verdict, not a week old before his fall from grace!
The thrust of the verdict sacking him is that he is not qualified to contest, the shortcomings of his deputy and running mate blighting his candidature.
Just like Ikpeazu Ph.D. the verdict of Abang J revolved around his stand to contest.
There are several talking points from this latest verdict of the Apex Court which sounded a death knell on the administrative prospects of Lyon as Governor, a killjoy just on the cusp of eldorado!
Can't we rethink our election laws and jurisprudence, amend the relevant laws to have issues like these in Ikpeazu Ph.D. and Lyon cases resolved at Election Petitions and it is decided once and for all?
It is ridiculous in my humble opinion having the Supreme Court resolve election cases pro a candidate only for a volte-face through another window legally christened "pre-election matters".
It is appreciated that the Court is correcting anomalies but it is also worrisome that we are having political leaders birthed by Court gavel and not the populist electoral stance of the people.
The list is long. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State with the way he emerged following Late Prince Audu's demise, Hope Uzodimma in Imo State, now the beneficiary of the Bayelsa debacle, etc.
Methinks it is high time we rethink our laws and creatively decipher antidotes for situations like these, where deterrence/punishment for infractions by politicians and respect for the populist mandate of the people through the ballot will merge.
Ifeanyi Agwuncha wrote from Anambra
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