UDOM EMMANUEL-SEYI MAKINDE’S SUPREME COURT VICTORIES: PDP GOVERNORS FORUM REACTS - Assures members of unflinching support and loyalty
The PDP Governors Forum has congratulated Governors Udom Emmanuel and Seyi Makinde of Akwa Ibom and Oyo States respectively over the validation of their election victories by the Supreme Courts against the decision of the Court of Appeal.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Forum, said the news of the apex court verdicts did not come as a surprise because of the massive support Deacon Emmanuel and Engr. Makinde received from the people and residents of Akwa Ibom and Oyo States as the case may be during the March 9th, 2019 Governorship Election.
The Forum said the affirmation of the mandates clears the path for the governors to settle down in the enormous tasks of taking their states to greater heights without any further distractions.
It described the victories as a testimony to the transparent, credible, democratic, free and fair election process that produced them and the other PDP Governors.
The statement which was signed by the DG of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, assured Governors Emmanuel and Makinde as well as other Member-Governors of the Forum of their unflinching support and loyalty as they continue to serve their various states with integrity, dedication and uncommon patriotism.
Earlier, the appeal court had ruled against the election tribunal in Oyo which dismissed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Adebayo Adelabu; saying in its majority decision that the tribunal was wrong to have dismissed the petition, but all the same refusing to sack Engr. Makinde as Oyo Governor, even as a minority member of the appeal court ruled in favour of Makinde.
However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment upturning the majority decision of the appeal court which set aside the ruling of the tribunal said the appeal court ruling was not meritorious and deserved to be set aside; and further ruled that the minority decision of the Court of Appeal was more deserving of the apex court’s consideration and thus upheld that very minority decision which validated Makinde’s election.
In the same vein, the Supreme Court in Abuja upheld the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. The apex court in a judgment delivered on Wednesday 18th December, 2019 says the case filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress lacked merit.
The APC candidate in the March 9 Governorship Election, Obong Nsima Ekere, had challenged the victory of Emmanuel, who was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission. In a judgement delivered by Justice Mary Odili, the court says Ekere’s “appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed.”
