The All Progressive Congress and Social Democratic Party camps in Ekiti state are hoping for a favorable ruling in the dispute over the June 18 gubernatorial election to be determined by the election petition court on Wednesday (today). for governor.
Dissatisfied with the declaration by the Independent National Election Commission of the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the elections, the SDP and its candidate, Chief Segun Oni, had filed a petition with the court, urging it to declare the winner of the SDP having supposedly got the highest number of valid votes.
The three-member court headed by Judge Wilfred Kpochi reserved judgment on November 23 after hearing the parties in the matter.
Judgment was reserved after presentation and adoption of written speeches by the parties.
Subsequently, the court informed the parties that the sentence would be handed down on Wednesday.
SDP State Publicity Secretary Ganiu Salau said on Tuesday: “Our expectation is very high based on the lawsuit we filed in court ranging from the issuance of the certificate against the deputy governor, Ms. Monisade Afuye, and flawed nomination process. of Oyebanji and his deputy.
“We have had the two sentences at the Supreme Court level based on our demands and our case will not be the exemption since precedence has been established.
“So, these give us hope that we will obtain a favorable judgment. We believe in the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man. We hope that the court will pass the sentence in accordance with the dictates of the law.”
But the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, maintained that there is nothing to worry about in the petition, claiming that APC and the Governor had proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Oyebode said: “We are optimistic of the victory. The reason is that the choice that brought Oyebanji as governor was overwhelming. The people voted massively for him. Therefore, the mandate is genuine and was freely given through a free, fair, credible and non-rancor democratic process.
“With all our trust in God, I believe we will succeed in court because we are children of success, not failure.”
