GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu has issued an olive branch to his main rival, Eyitayo Jegede, following his victory at the Supreme Court.
Recall that the Apex Court, this afternoon, upheld the candidacy of Akeredolu as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his subsequent emergence as winner of the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State.
In a 4 to 3 judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Jegede, against the election of Akeredolu.
In a press briefing afterward, the governor stated that the judiciary should be commended for standing by the truth and for not yielding to any influence.
Akeredolu, however, urged Jegede to join hands with his administration for the upliftment of the state.
He said, “I just heard the news of the final decision of the final court on the election petition filed by my brother, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. The supreme dismissed his appeal on 4-3 basis and that in essence is that from the Tribunal up to the Supreme Court.
“The justices have affirmed that the petition was most frivolous. As you know 12 Justices have affirmed in our favour and only three supported that petition. Three at the Tribunal, five at the Court of Appeal, and four at the Supreme Court.
“So, I’ve every reason to thank God and to appreciate our judiciary for standing by the truth and for not yielding to any influence. I believe that we can still be proud of our judiciary in this country.
“My advise to Jegede is that, this has ended now. Let him come, let us work together, at least for the upliftment of Ondo State. I don’t doubt his love for the state. He has served here before as Attorney General for about seven and half years.
“Let him come over, let us work together and work for this state. That is my advise to him. We don’t go any longer to the privy council. It has ended here.”
