8th October, 2014
An Abuja High court has halted the 11 October bye-election in Adamawa state and has ordered the swearing-in of Bala Ngilari, deputy to impeached Governor Murtala Nyako.
On 2 October, the court reserved judgment till today in a suit filed by Ngilari.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola reserved judgment after listening to the submissions of counsel to different parties in the suit, insisting that he would not give a definite date for the judgment but has now ordered the swearing-in of Ngilari.
The court held that Ngilari did not resign from office as Deputy Governor in line with section 306 (1) (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
In his address after taking oath of office, Ngilari said he would run an open, transparent and all-inclusive government.
“In this regard, I invite other arms of government, in particular the legislature and judiciary, not forgetting the civil service, to join hands with me to achieve these noble goals.
“As a party man and a team player, I pledge my unalloyed support and loyalty to our great party and Mr president, ” Ngilari said.
He described his emergence as an act of “God who gives power to who ever He chooses”.
“We acknowledge the divine power of God in all that happened. The holy books of both religions subscribe to the fact that power belongs to God and He gives it in trust to whosoever he wills,” Ngilari.