Barely 48hours after the dust was just settling from the euphoria created by the 70th birthday celebration of the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, his political rival and executive governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, just received a big reason to be more jubilant.
This latest victory goes to show that the new dawn in Oyo State is here to stay and GSM as the governor is fondly called by the entire people of Oyo State for the many strides being recorded by the young government is duly elected governor.
Recall that Ajimobi’s All Progressive Congress dragged the governor to the election tribunal after the March 9 governorship election, when the former questioned the legitimacy of the latter and called for total nullification of the election.
The petitioner was shocked when the petition was dismissed on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of malpractices in the election.
The clamour for change in government couldn’t be more loud as the voice of the Oyo people was re-vibrating and clear when Seyi polled 515, 621 votes defeating, his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who miserably polled 357,982 votes.
Not satisfied, APC proceeded to the court of appeal where the governor was neither removed nor retained in the office.
The Supreme Court has however stopped the fruitless run of the marauding party and affirmed Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Oyo State Governor in the March 9 governorship election.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision, set aside the decision of the Appeal Court which ordered for a supplementary election in some of the contested wards.
It also held that the lower court erred by setting aside the decision of the tribunal which upheld Makinde’s victory.
The former governor may have celebrated his birthday on Monday, it is indeed new day for Makinde, his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun and the good people who had waited with bated breath to see that justice is served and the Makinde is allowed to continue with his good works.
The apex court also held that APC and Adelabu, were unable to prove the allegations of violence and malpractices which they claimed marred the exercise in parts of the state.
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