Ekiti Council of traditional rulers has congratulated the executive governor of the state, Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, for their victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.
PREMIUM POLITICS on Thursday reported that the tribunal, in its judgement on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, had dismissed the petition of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Segun Oni and upheld the victory of Oyebanji and his deputy and the winner of the June 19, 2022 election.
The council in a statement issued by the Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, also urged the SDP candidate to accept the verdict in good faith.
The statement read, “Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers heartily congratulates His Excellency, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his deputy, Mrs Monisade Christiana Afuye on their victory at the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal which concluded its sitting on December 29, 2022 with the verdict that the election that brought him in as governor was free and fair.
“ 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”.