Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has hailed yesterday’s ruling of the Court of Appeal, which reaffirmed his election as governor; describing it as victory for democracy and the people.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti had dismissed the appeal of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Segun Oni, for lacking in substance.
Governor Oyebanji in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said his victory is to the glory of God and joy of the people of Ekiti State, whose mandate was reconfirmed by the appellate court.
Oyebanji, who described the Appeal Court ruling as a “landmark judgment”, thanked the judiciary for living up to its reputation as the bastion of democracy and last hope of the common man.
He said the judgment was a further proof that God had a hand in the mandate given to him by the people of Ekiti State on June 18, 2022.
The governor said the judgment should energise members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Ekiti State to march to the polling units with renewed confidence and determination to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Restating his respect for Oni, Governor Oyebanji urged his supporters to celebrate in moderation and avoid any form of name calling or hostility against members of the opposition party.
He said Oni had a right to exercise his constitutional right of seeking judicial intervention.
“I hail the judiciary for this landmark judgment. The judiciary is living up to the expectation of the people. This is victory for democracy and the rule of law.”
“I dedicate this victory to God and the good people of Ekiti State, who have continued to show tremendous support for the administration. It’s a validation of what they did during the election and I thank the judiciary for upholding our victory as a party.
“I just want to plead with our supporters. Let us celebrate moderately. There is no need to quarrel with anybody or resort to name calling. We are one in Ekiti State. The party that has gone to court did so in exercise of its fundamental right.
“The judgment should energise our members to march to the polling units determined to vote for Asiwaju Tinubu and all APC candidates on Saturday.
“I further restate my respect for Engr. Oni and invite him back to the APC to join us in the task of making our people prosperous,” the governor added.