Ekiti Tribunal: Sheath your sword, support Gov Oyebanji – Ekiti Obas, Speaker to Oni

By Precious Oham

The Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers and the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, has urged the Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate in the June 18 governorship election, Engr. Segun Oni to sheath his sword and support Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

The Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ado-Ekiti had upheld the victory of Governor Oyebanji as the winner of the June 18 governorship election in the state.

In a statement by the Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, on Friday, in Ado-Ekiti, described the verdict as an affirmation of the overwhelming decision of Ekiti electorates at the poll.

While urging Governor Oyebanji to be magnanimous in victory, they urged all aggrieved persons to accept the electoral decision of Ekiti people.

The statement reads: “The Council is happy to note that with this conclusion, the tribunal has effectively put a seal on the election and confirmed the decision of the majority of Ekiti people which overwhelmingly voted the Governor in June.

“The Council also expresses the view that with this verdict, all the political gladiators across the parties should sheath their sword and cooperate with the governor for the development of Ekiti State.

“The Council appeals to the Governor to be magnanimous in victory and to reach out to his opponents for the good of Ekiti State.

“The Council also pleads with the hitherto aggrieved persons to put the outcome of the governorship election behind them and accept the electoral decision of the Ekiti people in good faith. It the considered opinion of the Council that there is always another time; as a loser today can become a winner tomorrow.”

Similarly, the House of Assembly Speaker, in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Odunayo Ogunmola, said the Tribunal has done justice in ensuring the electoral wishes of the people were not truncated by a needles petition.

Hon. Adelugba equally called on warring factions to support the governor in exercising the mandate to the advancement of the state.

She said: “On behalf of the honourable members, the management and staff of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, I want to congratulate Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, on the affirmation of their electoral victory by the Election Petition Tribunal.

“The people of Ekiti State have spoken through their votes on June 18, 2022, the Judiciary has confirmed the victory recorded on the field and the court judgment has brought joy to the state that the popular mandate given to them and our party, the APC still stands.

“There must be an end to every litigation, it is now time for all Ekiti people to come together and support Governor Oyebanji for the development of our state. Ekiti people are one and we must all support our Governor to raise the bar of governance to a higher pedestal.”