29th December, 2022
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo has lauded the judgement of Ekiti Election Tribunal which affirmed the victory of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji.
The Minister in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Mr Ifedayo Sayo, said the judgement had shown that Oyebanji’s victory demonstrated the decision of majority of voters in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Tribunal in its judgment on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti dismissed the petition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Mr Segun Oni.
In the judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi and a member of the Panel, Justice Sa’ad Zadawa, resolved all issues in contention against Oni and his party.
The Panel held that the petition filed by Oni against the return of Oyebanji and Afuye respectively “failed woefully head or tail.”
According to Adebayo, the victory was not a fluke but the decision of the majority of voters in the state who voted for continuity of the lofty programmes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“With the judgement, the coast is now clear for the Oyebanji administration to start implementing his development agenda for the good of the people of the state,” Adebayo said.
The minister said that the decision of the tribunal further proved the loyalty and support of the people for the APC.
While urging Oyebanji to be magnanimous in victory, Adebayo asked the people of the state to rally round the governor for the development of the state.
He also urged opposition political parties to set aside their political differences and support the governor to move the state forward.
Adebayo lauded the petitioners in the election petition, Chief Segun Oni and the SDP for resorting to the tribunal to seek redress.
He said that with the judgement of the tribunal, they would embrace peace for a better Ekiti State.