Ekiti Governor-Elect Lauds Court’s Verdict Over Candidacy

Ekiti Governor-elect, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has lauded the judgment of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti regarding his candidacy of the APC in the Jan. 27 governorship primary election in the state.
Oyebanji gave the commendation in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Raheem Akingbolu, in Ado-Ekiti, shortly after the Court’s judgment.
The governor-elect described the judgment, which threw out the petition of one of the aspirants, Mr Kayode Ojo, as a landmark judgment which will put to rest the controversies surrounding his emergence as the APC flagbearer in the Jan. 27 primary.
He commended the judiciary for living up to its expectation as the last hope of the common man, saying he was happy that the court upheld the decision of thousands of APC members that voted for him as the party’s candidate during the primary.
The governor-elect urged his supporters to be magnanimous in victory, stressing that the case is a family affair, which should not warrant any name calling or bad blood among members of the party.
He, however, called on Ojo and a few others, who might have issues with the outcome of the Jan. 27 primary of the party to sheath their swords and work with the in-coming administration in the quest to developing the state.
However, reacting Ojo, the plaintiff, rejected the outcome of the Court’s judgment.
This is contained in a statement by his Media Aide, Alhaji Deji Ayelabowo, in Ado-Ekiti.
Ojo faulted the judgment, saying the presiding Judge dismissed his case based on technicality; with promise to approach the Court of Appeal to seek redress on the judgment.
“Though, we believe in the sanctity of the judiciary, the judge erred in his judgment and we know the Court of Appeal will correct the error.
“We want to appeal to Ekiti people and our teeming supporters to be patient, that the race is not for the swift, it is not a sprint, but marathon; that eventually justice will be served.
“We will meet in the appellate court,” Ojo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the suit instituted by Ojo against the Ekiti APC and its governornorship flagbear as well as 18 others on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction.
“Due to the irregularities in the identity of the lawyers who filled the processes, the case is defective and terribly bad.
“As the Bible says, when the foundation is bad what can the righteous do? We must know you can’t put something on nothing, which therefore renders the entire suit as a mere academic exercise. I hereby strike out the suit”, the judge held.