Cross River State Guber Re-Run Election - Imoke's Chances of Re-Election.

Byline: Dapo Akinrefon

IT came as a shock to the people of Cross River State and especially to Senator Liyel Imoke when the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar upturned the election of the latter.

To Imoke, it was an act of God but to the opposition parties, it was the rule of law in action.

But the sacked governor does not feel perturbed about the whole scenario and to this end, he is optimistic that come August 23, 2008, he will reclaim his mandate.

It is expedient to note that on January 23, 2008, the Justice Amina Wambai-led election petition tribunal in the state upheld the election of Imoke.

Not satisfied with the ruling, members of the opposition, mainly from the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and the Action Congress, AC, amongst other parties, proceeded to the Court of Appeal to seek legal redress and at the same time challenge Imoke's victory.

The prayers of the opposition were, however, answered by the appellate court and as a result of this, Imoke's election was upturned and a re-run called for.

But a chieftain of the PDP in Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, disagrees with the Court of Appeal ruling even as he said Imoke would obey the rule of law. …