Anxiety has enveloped the political space in Cross River State following the expected judgment by the Supreme Court scheduled for December 9, 2016 in a pre-election matter filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Joe Agi, challenging Governor Ben Ayade’s qualification to contest the 2015 governorship election as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the suit no.SC256/2016 pending before the Supreme Court, Agi who came second to Ayade during the PDP governorship primaries, is alleging that Ayade lied about his date of birth by supplying false information and conflicting age declaration documents, on oath, to the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), thereby committing perjury.

Agi is also praying the court to declare him the rightful candidate of the party who was duly returned at the 2015 governorship election held on April 11, 2015.

When the matter came up for hearing September 27, the PDP through its counsel, Mr. N. Ibegbulam, denied Ayade and aligned themselves with the submission and prayers of Agi, who is praying the court to declare that Ayade was not qualified to be fielded as candidate of the PDP.

Counsel to Ayade, Wole Olanikpeku (SAN), had countered the argument of the PDP’s counsel, saying he was raising a fresh issue altogether and urged the apex court to reject the prayers the PDP who had aligned themselves with Agi’s prayers.

After listening to the arguments of the counsel in the matter including Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who defended Ayade, the panel justices led by Justice Bode-Rhodes Vivour, reserved judgment for December 9.

Reacting to the development, the IPAC in the state called on the NJC to probe the rejection of Ayade by the PDP counsel at the Supreme Court, saying the development was strange.

THISDAY findings indicated that despite the visible anxiety among his supporters, Ayade has remained composed and has been going about the normal running of the state’s affairs with extra vigour.

There has been no official comment about the impending judgment from the state government, but some of the governor’s aides and public servants who confided in THISDAY said they were very anxious and tensed up.

However, they prayed and hoped that Ayade would emerge victorious at the Supreme Court, just as he did at the High Court and the Appeal Court.
Supporters of Agi have been holding prayers on weekly bases for the victory of their principal at the Supreme Court.

THISDAY also gathered that some supporters and close aides of Ayade and Agi have relocated to Abuja ahead of the judgment.

Sunnymatey:
Whatsover is the outcome, l stand with justice. Let God decide.

udumosam23:
Conflicting age declaration is now a crime. God save me, don't even know when I was born. My mom when she was alive filled a different age from what daddy filled in my hospital card when he was alive.

Had no birth cert, so I made one for myself with the age I feel more convienent with. Wasn't home when my uncle gave my name and passport for waec registration, he also filled in a different date, and my ID card I just realized carried a different date altogether.

Recently I was restricted from withdrawing with my ATM card from first bank that my date of birth did not correspond with my BVN date of birth. Had to take one of the date of births cert to go resolve the issue only to be restricted by Heritage bank cos of same issue.

Now that my ID card, Waec result and cert of age declaration are all against each other, what am I suppose to do?

Worst is the fact that I don't even know the correct one. See problem?

Chiefpriest1:
I like the man sha, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't answer to his alleged perjury.

However, I have noticed that the nigerian system programs people to lie about their ages.


And the circle continues...

udumosam23:
Conflicting age declaration is now a crime. God save me, don't even know when I was born. My mom when she was alive filled a different age from what daddy filled in my hospital card when he was alive.

Had no birth cert, so I made one for myself with the age I feel more convienent with. Wasn't home when my uncle gave my name and passport for waec registration, he also filled in a different date, and my ID card I just realized carried a different date altogether.

Recently I was restricted from withdrawing with my ATM card from first bank that my date of birth did not correspond with my BVN date of birth. Had to take one of the date of births cert to go resolve the issue only to be restricted by Heritage bank cos of same issue.

Now that my ID card, Waec result and cert of age declaration are all against each other, what am I suppose to do?

Worst is the fact that I don't even know the correct one. See problem?

Chiefpriest1:
I like the man sha, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't answer to his alleged perjury.

However, I have noticed that the nigerian system programs people to lie about their ages.

Imagine this: some youths are still writing jamb at 27 years. Not necessarily because they are dull, but because 200,000 candidates are contending for space among over a million that wrote the exam for that year.

Among that 200,000, government officials will get their slots, the rich will buy their way, not-so-brilliant folks will cheat, leaving you who feels you have some integrity.

By the time you finish, assuming there's no strike, you are already 31, but you want to serve(nysc), so you lie about your age.

Okay , you have served successfully, but the few job openings are looking for 22 to 24 years yet you are under serious pressure to wean yourself of your parents care. So, you lie that you are 24, cutting off a whopping 7yrs.

Or you eventually get a govt job, but you know that your pensions won't be paid even when you retire at 65, so you cut 10 years off because even at 75, you still want to be receiving regular salaries.

And the circle continues...

udumosam23:
Conflicting age declaration is now a crime. God save me, don't even know when I was born. My mom when she was alive filled a different age from what daddy filled in my hospital card when he was alive.

Had no birth cert, so I made one for myself with the age I feel more convienent with. Wasn't home when my uncle gave my name and passport for waec registration, he also filled in a different date, and my ID card I just realized carried a different date altogether.

Recently I was restricted from withdrawing with my ATM card from first bank that my date of birth did not correspond with my BVN date of birth. Had to take one of the date of births cert to go resolve the issue only to be restricted by Heritage bank cos of same issue.

Now that my ID card, Waec result and cert of age declaration are all against each other, what am I suppose to do?

Worst is the fact that I don't even know the correct one. See problem?