Ekiti: PDP heads to Appeal as mixed reactions trail tribunal judgement

It was a case of mixed reaction in Ado-Ekiti,  the state capital, on Monday after the  Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja upheld the victory of Governor Kayode Fayemi. Members of the ruling All Protgressive Congress, ( APC) trooped into the street and hailed the outcome of the case.

The People Democratic Party, (PDP), however rejected the judgment, threatening to head to the Court of Appeal .

The broom wielding party members danced from Odo Ado area to the government house and ended their procession at the party’s secretariat in Ajilosun area of the capital city.

The Tribunal, in its judgement delivered by Justice Suleiman Belgore, said Fayemi was validly elected in the July 14, 2018 Governorship election, contrary to the position canvassed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

Fayemi polled a total of 197,459 to defeat Olusola , who scored a total votes of 178, 022 to emerge a runner-up.

The Tribunal began sitting in Ekiti last year August before it relocated to Abuja citing cases of insecurity in the state.

The APC members, who started their jubilation from Odo Ado, a section of Ado Ekiti metropolis were led by a House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central federal constituency I, Hon Sola Fatoba and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Mobilisation, Hon Tunji Ogunlola.

Ogunlola, while addressing the crowd  said Fayemi worked very hard to win the election and that the judgement had confirmed the position of the party.

They danced to the music being supplied by a popular musician in Ekitiand the long convoy of vehicles caused traffic logjam along Ado-Ikere-Akure road.

Meanwhile, APC had described the victory as expected, saying theparty perpetrated no electoral heist in the election to warrant the nullification of its outcome.

The State Deputy Chairman of the party, Hon Sola Elesin said: “We are happy over the outcome of the election, but we are not in any way surprised, because transparent election was held in the July 14 governorship election.

“It was clear that Governor Fayemi won fair and square, so we are not afraid even if they want to appeal the judgement, we are ready for them , because we have no skeleton in our cupboard. There were no cases of electoral malpractices”.

“We had won two litigations since Fayemi came on board. He was takento the court on his eligibility to contest the APC governorshipprimary and he won. He was taken to the Election petition Tribunal, healso came out victorious.

“We will continue to win because we have no skeleton in our cupboard”, he said.However, the PDP candidate in the governorship election and petitionerin the case, Prof Olusola, said the party  will appeal the judgement.

Olusola, who spoke through the Director of Media of his campaign organization, Lere Olayinka said: “That is not the last bus stop asregards the election petition Tribunal.

“The law is very clear regarding the hierarchies of courts we canapproach to seek redress on this issue. We are surely going to appealthe judgement”, Olusola said.

Former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has declared that he was not surprised by today’s verdict of the tribunal on the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola, saying; “The judgement was already in the public domain and celebrated by the APC more than a week before today.”

Fayose, while reacting to the tribunal judgement, dismissing the PDP petition, said he would have been surprised at the outcome of the judgement if it had been otherwise because the judiciary was already coerced by the APC led federal government.

According to his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor said the judgement will be appealed and the case pursued to the Supreme court, assuring that justice will prevail ultimately.

He enjoined Nigerians and Ekiti people to keep hope alive against what he called perversion, suppression and gagging of judges and by extension the judiciary.

His words: “In fact, the judgement was in public domain and celebrated by APC since the last few days.

“In the face of all these shenanigans, I still want to congratulate our candidate, my beloved Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola. Be assured Victory is ahead.”

Leave a Reply