The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Friday, congratulated Bala Ngilari on his inauguration as the Adamawa State governor with a charge to run an inclusive administration and ensure delivery of the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on Wednesday ruled that Mr. Ngilari, who was deputy to the impeached governor, Murtala Nyako, be sworn in as substantive governor.
The court asked the acting governor, Umaru Fintiri, to vacate office and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to halt the bye-election earlier scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement by its Director General, Asishana Okauru, the NGF-led by the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, described the ruling of the court as a landmark judgement and a plus for the judiciary and the Nigerian democracy.
It also praised Mr. Ngilari for standing firm and remaining undaunted while the case lasted and asked political leaders to always explore court processes in resolving political disagreements.
“The Forum sees the ruling as a land-mark judgment and a plus for the Judiciary and the Nigerian democracy. We urge the judiciary to remain steadfast, bold and independent in anticipation of several other electoral cases as we move closer to the 2015 general elections.
“We also seize this opportunity to call on political leaders to always explore court processes in resolving political disagreements.
“We praise the new governor for standing firm and remaining undaunted while the case lasted and charge him to be inclusive in his administrative style and ensure the delivery of true democracy
dividends to the people of Adamawa state.
“Most importantly, we call on other stakeholders to be mindful of potential pitfalls caused by over-zealousness as this would impact negatively on our thriving democracy.”
It is not clear if Mr. Ngilari, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will place his membership with the Mr. Amaechi-led NGF as his former boss, Mr. Nyako, who was a member of the party before decamping to the All Progressives Congress, APC, last November.
The forum split into two following the rejection of the result of its election in May 2103 by some governors led by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang. Mr. Amaechi had defeated Mr. Jang by 19 votes to 16.
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