As the Supreme Court delivers judgment tomorrow, Tuesday, on the Kogi State governorship election appeals, tension is believed to be mounting, leading to the deployment by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of over 1,000 personnel to maintain peace.
The Commandant of the Corps in the state, Everestus Obiyo, who spoke at a press briefing in Lokoja today, Monday, said the effort is to avert possible breakdown of law and order after the court judgment.
Obiyo said that the command would not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group that disturbed public peace after the verdict.
According to him, peace remains the hallmark of any meaningful development, urging the people of the state to remain calm and display sense of maturity during and after the judgment.
He reiterated the Corps’ mandate to protect critical infrastructure in the state.
Obiyo urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and guardians, to educate their people on the need to avoid acts capable of undermining peace in the state.
The commandant urged youths in the state to desist from any act that could land them in trouble, but engage in lawful businesses and ventures as means of livelihood.
A former Governor of the State, Captain Idris Wada, and a contender for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the election, James Faleke, had approached the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the governorship election petitions tribunal, which dismissed all six petitions challenging the election of Governor Yahaya Bello. [myad]
