JUDGEMENT CUTS SHORT PDP RALLY IN CROSS RIVER

Members of the political group that organized the rally 'Supreme Coalition' started gathering in small groups to discuss the implication of the judgment as the rumor mill had it that the Supreme Court had disqualified Imoke from contesting the election.

The governor's office was like a grave yard after the judgment.  Life gradually came to the office with the news that the speaker was to be sworn in as the acting governor.

Reacting to the decision via his facebook yesterday, Imoke appealed for calm and peace in the state, saying: 'This morning the Supreme Court delivered judgment with respect to the first tenure of this administration holding that the tenure ended on the 27th of May 2011.

In compliance with the judgment I have vacated office as Governor and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly has been sworn in as acting Governor. The Independent Electoral Commission shall, following the provisions of the law, conduct elections for the office of governor.

Addressing a group of protesters who condemned the Supreme Court judgment, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Patrick Ugbe debunked the rumour that Imoke was disqualified from running in the April election.

Ugbe told them that the judgment did not say that Imoke should not come back and that the Constitution of the country was explicit on the matter, adding, 'there is no way that he can be denied his right and that judgment did not deny him his right.'