* Buhari congratulates Ondo gov
The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed against Ondo State governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Mr. Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from the October 10, 2020 governorship election.
The legal fireworks effectively ended Wednesday, as the Supreme Court upheld the election of the Akeredolu as Ondo State governor.
Eyitayo Jegede had in June appealed the decision of the Court of Appeal that validated the election of Akeredolu in the poll.
The Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua dismissed Jegede’s petition, while affirming Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.
In its verdict, the Appeal Court had, out of seven issues raised for determination, resolved four- and-half in favour of Jegede, and the rest two-and-a-half in favour of Akeredolu.
But, dissatisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, both Akeredolu, Jegede, and INEC approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court judgments.
The case came up for hearing today at the Supreme Court.
The seven members of the Supreme Court Justices under the Chairmanship of Justice Mary Odili had initially adjourned till noon of Wednesday, after listening to the arguments of all the lawyers of parties in the case.
Upon resumption from the two hours recess, the court dismissed the petition with four Justices upholding Akeredolu’s victory against the dissenting judgment of three other justices led by Justice Odili who read the dissenting verdict.
The majority said: “Jegede, the PDP candidate should have joined the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni in their case.”
And expectedly, President Muhammadu Buhari promptly congratulated Akeredolu for his victory at the Supreme Court.
The President also charged the opposition in Ondo State to keep aside its urge for fight with the ruling party and work with Governor Akeredolu in the interest of the development of the State.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday, Buhari charged Akeredolu as well as other elected officers on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to always design their development programme and project in accordance with the demand of the people.
He affirmed the popularity of the APC would always depend on the performance and acceptance of its elected officers.
“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,” the statement said.