TheCable

Former deputy governor of Adamawa state, Mr Bala Ngilari, has been sworn in as the substantive governor of the state.

Ngilari was sworn in at Government House, Yola, by president of the customary court of appeal, Justice Audu Lagre, shortly after a federal high court in Abuja ordered the removal of the acting governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

The court held that Ngilari’s alleged resignation from office as deputy governor was not in line with Section 306 (1) (2) and (5) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

In his address after taking oath of office, Ngilari promised to 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,” he said.

“As a party man and a team player, I pledge my unalloyed support and loyalty to our great party and Mr. President.”

Ngilari described his emergence as “an act of God who gives power to whoever 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 said.

In his first official function, the governor announced the appointment of Mr. Chubado Tijjani as his chief of staff.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally called off Saturday’s bye-election.

The electoral body had been making plans for the election since Murtala Nyako’s impeachment.

However, barely 72 hours to the poll, a federal high court in Abuja ruled that Bala Ngilari, the deputy of the ousted governor should be sworn in because he was not affected by the impeachment.

“The federal high court, Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, delivered judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/545/2014 betweenBarrister Bala James Nggilari vs. Speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly & 5 Ors,” INEC said in a statement.

“The court declared that Barrister Bala James Nggilari did not resign from his office as deputy governor of Adamawa state as required by the constitution and granted, among others, an order restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the office of governor of Adamawa state.

“In compliance with the court order, INEC hereby suspends all preparations for the conduct of governorship bye-election in Adamawa state, which was scheduled to hold on Saturday, 11th October, 2014.”

Adamu Fintri had been the acting governor ever since Nyako was outsted.