A’Court ratifies Akeredolu’s victory

…Jegede heads for S’Court

GOVERNOR of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has emerged victorious in a case filed against him, challenging his re-election for second term.

  The Akure Division of Appeal Court sitting in Akure, dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, challenging the reelection of Akeredolu.

  Delivering the judgement, Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua held that the appeal of the PDP candidate lacked merit, ruling that “the appeal is partly allowed and partly dismissed.”

  But in a swift reaction to the Court of Appeal’s judgement, Jegede vowed to approach Supreme Court.

  A statement issued on his behalf by PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Petetei said the party and its candidate would challenge the judgement because of obvious errors made by the first appellate court.

  “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ondo State and candidate of the party will challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court. In concluding her lead judgment, Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua said the Appeal was partially dismissed and partially allowed. To the ordinary man in the street, the judgment was ‘inconclusive’ and we must approach the Supreme Court to help them conclude the judgment.

The kernel of the Eyitayo Jegede/PDP petition was whether or not a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) should be allowed to stay; Whether or not Mai Mala Buni, as a sitting Governor of Yobe State can double as National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, to sign the Nomination of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for the governorship election. While the Court of Appeal acknowledged that it was violation of the constitution, it still went ahead to dismiss the appeal.

 We are still studying the details of the judgment, by virtue of the fact that it was delivered via Zoom. But we have sufficient grounds to appeal the decision of the court. We are confident the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, will do justice,” the statement reads.