The camps of the All Progressives Congress and the Social Democratic Party in Ekiti State are both hopeful of favourable judgment in the dispute over the June 18 governorship election to be determined on Wednesday (today) by the governorship election petitions tribunal.
Dissatisfied with the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission of the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the election, the SDP and its candidate, Chief Segun Oni, had filed a petition before the tribunal, urging it to declare SDP winner having allegedly scored the highest number of valid votes.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had on November 23 reserved judgment after listening to the sides in the matter.
Judgment was reserved after the presentation and adoption of written addresses by the parties.
The tribunal later communicated to the parties that the judgment would be delivered on Wednesday.
The SDP State Publicity Secretary, Ganiu Salau, on Tuesday, said, “Our expectation is very high based on the grounds of the demand we presented at the court ranging from the certificate issue against the deputy governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, and faulty nomination process of Oyebanji and his deputy.
“We have had the two judgments to the level of Supreme Court on the grounds of our demands and our case will not be the exemption as precedence has been established.
“So, these give us hope that we are going to get a favourable judgment. We believe in the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man. We expect the tribunal to deliver the judgment in accordance with the dictates of the law.”
But the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, maintained that there is nothing to worry about in the petition, claiming that the APC and the governor had proven their case beyond all reasonable doubts at the tribunal.
Oyebode said, “We are optimistic of victory. The reason is that the election that brought Oyebanji as the governor was overwhelming. The people voted massively for him. So, the mandate is genuine and was freely given through a free, fair, credible and rancour-free democratic process.
“With all our trust in God, I believe we will triumph at the tribunal because we are children of success, not failure.”
Credit: Punch
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