President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday led his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to congratulate Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose victory at the October 2020 Governorship election was validated same day by Nigeria’s apex Court, the Supreme Court.
Also, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede and his party have congratulate the governor who was APC candidate at the election.
While it affirmed Akeredolu’s victory at the election, the Court struck out the suit filed by Jegede for lacking in merit. The PDP candidate had dragged his APC counterpart to the apex court challenging his victory at the poll.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President charged the opposition in Ondo to lay aside its fight with the ruling party and work with the Governor in the interest of the development of the state.
Buhari charged Akeredolu as well as other elected officers on the platform of the ruling APC to always design their development programmes and project in accordance with the demand of the people.
He affirmed that the popularity of APC would always depend on the performance and acceptance of its elected officers.
The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari joins members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in felicitating with Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State over the Supreme Court judgement, which upheld his re-election in the October 10, 2020 polls.
“The President urges the governor, and all elected leaders of the governing party, to always place the people first in their consideration of development programmes and projects, affirming that the popularity of the APC would continue to depend on performance and acceptance by the electorate.
“President Buhari extols the Ondo Governor for assiduously working for the development of the state, with reforms that continue to attract the goodwill of investors, and insistence that education, health and security take priority.
“The President notes that the Supreme Court Judgement, preceded by that of the Court of Appeal, further bolsters the strength and reach of the APC, and its bright chances of consolidation in coming elections.
“President Buhari calls on the opposition to sheathe the sword, work for the development of Ondo State, and wishes the government and people a prosperous future.
Akeredolu praises Judiciary
In his own reaction, Akeredolu commended the judiciary for upholding his victory in the election.
Reacting to the verdict at the Government House in Akure, he said the judiciary stood for the truth and did not yield to any influence.
He said: “I have every reason to thank God and to appreciate our judiciary for standing by the truth and for not yielding to any influence. I believe that we can still be proud of our judiciary in this country.”
His words: “I just heard the news of the final decision of the final court on the election petition filed by my brother, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. The supreme dismissed his appeal on a 4-3 basis and that in essence is that from the Tribunal up to the Supreme Court.
“The justices have affirmed that the petition was most frivolous. As you know 12 Justices have affirmed in our favour and only three supported that petition, three at the Tribunal, five at the Court of Appeal, and four at the Supreme Court.”
The PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede had earlier approached the appeal court to challenge the candidacy of Akeredolu, insisting that his nomination form was signed by a sitting Governor Mai Buni who doubles as the Acting National Chairman of the party.
The appeal was based on the constitutional provision which forbids sitting Governors from holding executive positions outside their statutory position as governors.
Jegede Congratulates Akeredolu
Reacting, Jegede congratulated Akeredolu after the Supreme Court affirmed the victory of the latter on Wednesday.
In a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists, he disclosed that the ruling won’t deter him from respecting the judiciary.
He thanked the PDP, people of the state and his counsel for a good fight.
He said: “Now that we have explored the grievance procedure permitted by the constitution and the law, it is time to give glory to God.
“We thank specially our legal team, under the leadership of Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, OON, SAN, FCIArb, for their commitment, industry and dedication to our cause. Over and above all, we thank them for their sacrifice.
“We are thankful to the people of Ondo State for their steadfastness, we were in this for service and for the collective interest of the majority of our people.
“The outcome of today’s judgment should not deter good and well-meaning individuals from aspiring for leadership in our state and in our country. For all our people who have stood strong, we salute you.
“We thank the national and state leadership, and the generality of the members of PDP for providing us with great support. For our governors who provided the required leadership and kept faith with our aspiration, gratitude, history will judge you right.
“With this outcome, our respect and reverence for the judiciary and our justices of the Supreme Court has not diminished.
“I congratulate HE Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.”
PDP accepts verdict, says it is not discouraged
Also, the PDP in the state in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy lkantu Peretei said that “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter has accepted the verdict saying: “In their considered opinions, all the Justices agreed that, Mai Mala Buni violated the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) but four of them in their majority decision dismissed our Appeal because Buni was not joined in the petition.
“Three other justices in their minority judgement held that joining Buni was unnecessary because the Constitution which is the ground norm of our democracy can not be trampled upon with such impunity.
“Our party wishes to encourage all our party supporters to remain steadfast and be consoled that, we fought a good fight, from the beginning to the end.
“The Supreme Court is the “Guardian Angel” of our Constitution and Democracy. To ensure that nobody tramples upon it without consequence.
Peretei added that “As much as we are not discouraged by this verdict, we shall continue to pursue that which will make life more easy for the people of Ondo State.
APC praises apex court
In its own reaction, the APC hailed the court’s decision saying: “Fondly and popularly referred to as ‘Aketi’, the Governor Akeredolu administration is now poised to redouble the tempo of quality service delivery and consolidate its giant strides in the critical areas of education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, security, youth empowerment and industrialization.”,
The party reacted in a statement by the National Secretary of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.
Part of the statement reads; “For many residents of the Sunshine State who joked that Akeredolu has turned the state into a busy construction site, it rings true for a man who is truly passionate about the development of his independent-minded, enlightened and progressive people and state.
“Governor Akeredolu has followed up his people-oriented policies with several other developmental inititiatives which are returning Ondo State to its deserved status and consolidating on the landmark and progressive legacies of late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the first civilian governor of the state”.
