The Supreme Court of Nigeria has sacked five governors of Cross River, Sokoto, Kogi, Bayelsa and Adamawa state. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that the governors have overstayed the constitutional requirements of four years in office. Those who are kicked out of office are: Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa). Ibrahim Idris (Kogi) and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) The unanimous judgment of the apex court reads: “The earlier oath taken by the governors cannot be used as a reference point when determining when the tenure of the governors will end. This is because the election upon which they took the oath was not held in accordance with the law. “INEC was wrong in trying to give effect to the 2007 annulled elections in the five states. There is no ambiguity in Section 180 of the 1999 Constitution as amended as it states clearly that the tenure of a governor shall be four years starting from the day he takes Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance. “Once an act is declared null and void by a competent court of law, such an act has never existed in the eyes of the law. INEC was wrong in trying to give effect to the annulled 2007 elections in the five states. Something cannot be built on nothing; it will collapse. “The Supreme Court does not need to shout itself hoarse before we understand the meaning of Section 180 of the Constitution as amended. The amendment done to the constitution took effect from July 16, 2010 whereas the re-run elections and Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance thereof were conducted in 2008. And in the said amendment, there is nowhere in the constitution that it was stated that it will take a retroactive effect. And as such, amendment done to the constitution by the National Assembly will take effect from July 16, 2010. “In conclusion, the appeal brought by INEC lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.” Reacting to the judgment, Jibrin Isah, a PDP chieftain from Kogi state, in a statement by his Consultant on Public Communication and Strategy, Phrank Shaibu described the Supreme Court ruling as a “cast-iron victory for truth and a clear-cut expression of the electoral wishes of the Kogi people and Nigerians." His words: "I am proud of the courageous judgment. Truth and electoral wishes of the people have finally triumphed. "As for the judiciary, it remains the last bastion of hope for the common man and custodian of the Rule of Law. "We give kudos to our modern day Daniels. We are set for fresh elections as may be ordered within 90 days. This has indeed strengthened our position as the authentic and validly nominated candidate of the PDP in Kogi state".