Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s governorship election in Ondo Eyitayo Jegede has finally congratulated Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on his victory at the polls.
Jegede’s congratulatory message came after the Supreme Court judgment, which upheld rulings of the lower courts dismissing his petition for lacking in merit.
In a statement in Akure on Wednesday evening, Jegede said it was time to give glory to God having explored the grievance procedure permitted by the constitution and the law.
Jegede said he was in the governorship race for service and collective interest of the majority of the people.
He said the Supreme Court ruling should deter good and well-meaning individuals from aspiring for leadership in the State.
According to him: “For all our people who have stood strong, we salute you. We thank the National and State leadership, and the generality of the members of PDP for providing us with great support.
“For our Governors who provided the required leadership and kept faith with our aspiration, gratitude, history will judge you right.
“With this outcome, our respect and reverence for the judiciary and our justices of the supreme court has not diminished. I congratulate HE Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.”
Ondo PDP also said it has accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court.
It said the implication of the Supreme Court verdict was the non-joinder of Buni was more fatal to the petition than the infringement on the Constitution.
A statement by the spokesman of the party, Kennedy Peretei, urged all party supporters to remain steadfast and be consoled that they fought a good fight, from the beginning to the end.
“The Supreme Court is the “Guardian Angel” of our Constitution and Democracy. To ensure that nobody tramples upon it without consequence.
“To this end, the Judgement will also go into history as one of the major tests of our democracy which ought to be guided by the rule of law.
“As much as we are not discouraged by this verdict, we shall continue to pursue that which will make life easier for the people of Ondo State.”
