The All Progressives Congress has rejoiced with the government and people of Ondo over the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the victory of Rotimi Akeredolu in the last governorship election in the state.
The apex court had, on Wednesday, dismissed the appeal by Eyitayo Jegede and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, on the grounds that it was incompetent.
The APC, in a statement issued by the National Secretary of its Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, titled, APC Hails Governor Akeredolu’s Supreme Court Election Victory, said the Akeredolu administration was 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 industrialisation.
The statement partly 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 initiatives 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.”
However, the PDP argued that the split judgment by the Supreme Court showed that there was merit in its appeal against Akeredolu’s election as governor.
The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, titled, Ondo: Supreme Court’s Split Judgment Vindicates Our Appeal – PDP, noted that the majority judgment as presented by the Supreme Court did not address the impunity in the action of the Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, in functioning as the Chairman of the APC while at the same time holding office as a sitting governor, contrary to the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the constitution of the APC.
The statement partly read, “The fact that three justices out of the seven-man panel upheld our position on the illegality of Akeredolu’s nomination confirms that his candidacy as cancerous and a brazen violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the constitution of the APC. It is noteworthy that the judgement did not disagree with our position that Mai Mala Buni as Governor of Yobe State cannot function as National Chairman of a political party and nominate a candidate for election to the Independent National Electoral Commission. While our party restates its utmost respect for the institution of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, the PDP had expected the apex court to stand up as the conscience of our nation by halting the absurdities and impunities being entrench in the political firmament by the APC. The quest for a legal pronouncement that will guide the sanctity of our electoral system was the reason the PDP had explored our point of grievance legally to the highest court in the land, in the interest of the nation, and not just because of our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede. The PDP however urges our members in Ondo state and Nigerians at large not to allow the development make them lose hope but to remain calm and law-abiding in the general interest of the nation.”