President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on the Supreme Court judgement, which upheld his re-election in the October 10, 2020 polls.
President Buhari, who, according to a statement by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, joins members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in felicitating with the Governor, also urged Akeredolu 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 State 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.
He called on the opposition to sheathe the sword and work for the development of Ondo State.
By Ayodeji Alabi
Akure, July 28, 2021
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Dr Ajayi Boroffice, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, in their reactions, lauded the Supreme Court’s judgment.
The apex court had on Wednesday declared Akeredolu winner of the election in an appeal filed before it by Eyitayo Jegede, Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Jegede had approached the court on grounds that the nomination of Akeredolu by the APC was unconstitutional.
Akeredolu had earlier won at the Tribunal and Appeal Court, which the Supreme Court now upheld.
The governor, at a news conference in Akure, thanked the people of Ondo State and his legal team for their patience and resilience during the trials.
Akeredolu said his legal team worked tremendously to ensure that justice prevailed, and all efforts to return him to office was not in futility.
“The judgment in total, from the results of tribunal to Supreme Court, shows that I had a gallant victory at the Oct. 10, 2020 governorship election,” he said.
The governor said the time had come to continue infrastructure development in the three senatorial districts.
Akeredolu called on Jegede to “work hand in glove” with him to continue the development of the state.
Also, Boroffice, in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Kayode Fakuyi, said the judgment was consistent with the wishes of the good people of the state.
He, therefore, extended warm felicitation to the governor and all members of APC in the state.
Ondo lawmakers congratulate Akeredolu
By Oluwafemi Ojo
Akure,July 28,2021
Also reacting to the judgement, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, in a press statement signed in Akure by the spokesman of the assembly, Olugbenga Omole, after the court ruling on Wednesday, congratulated Gov. Akeredolu on his victory at the Supreme Court.
The Speaker of the House, Baamide Oleyelogun, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers described the verdict as a landmark in the dispensation of justice in Nigeria and noted that it was another victory for democracy.
He called on Mr Eyitayo Jegede of PDP to join hands with Akeredolu towards enhancing the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
“Having gone through the lengthy judicial process, we thank God that the entire process was in favour of our action Governor.
“Now that ruling has been given in favour of Mr Governor, he can now focus on his development agenda for the people of Ondo State, as a major distraction has been removed and come to an end,” he said.
The speaker, however, urged the governor to extend the olive branch to the opposition and again expressed the readiness of the assembly to work with him.
Four out of the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mary Odili in a majority judgment threw out the petition of Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, for lacking merit.
