Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Femi Falana has described the bid by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to extend his tenure of office by seeking to complete his first term which was truncated in 2006 as futile.
The impeachment of Fayose about six months to the end of his first tenure as governor in 2006 by the Ekiti House of Assembly was nullified in 2014 by the Supreme Court.
The Governor, however, said on a radio programme on Monday that since the Supreme Court had declared the 2006 impeachment illegal, he would approach the same court to interpret the ruling to see if he can complete the truncated part of his first tenure by seeking a re-election in 2018.
Falana, however, advised Fayose that there were more than enough legal precedence on similar issues that indicate that the Governor is embarking on a wild goose chase in a statement he released on Wednesday.
According to rights activist, no court can prolong the tenure of a sitting governor beyond the two terms prescribed by the Constitution.
Citing similar matters decided by the apex court, Falana said, “In the case of Gov Rasheed Ladoja v INEC the appellant wanted an extension of his term of office to allow him to spend extra 11 months while he was fighting his impeachment from outside.
“Although the Supreme Court had set aside his impeachment it was held that the relief was illegal and unconstitutional.
“Similarly, the governors who were re-elected after their initial election was annulled, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that tenure extension was unknown to the Constitution.
“In view of the settled position of the law on the matter, Governor Ayo Fayose cannot be granted by any court in Nigeria.”