Supreme Court Verdict: Akeredolu Jittery, Abraham Jubilant

Apprehension has gripped the camp of the Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN)  while there is jubilation in the camp of Dr Segun Abraham over the Supreme Court verdict passed on Friday.

The Supreme Court had nullified the appeal of Governor Akeredolu over the primary that produced him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the September 3, 2016, governorship election.

The apex court dismissed the objection and remitted the case to Federal High Court for adjudication.

In reaction to the latest judgement, the Olusegun Abraham campaign organisation said it received the judgement with utmost respect for judiciary in Nigeria.

It said that the judgement, celebrated all over the world, is a victory for democracy.

A statement by the Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Mr Eko Davies said:

”We urge the people of Ondo State to remain calm, collected and continue to hope in God through the judiciary for the expected judgement in the case between Dr Olusegun Abraham and Mr Rotimi Akeredolu to determine the authentic flag bearer of the APC in the 2017 Ondo governorship election.

“We also want to correct the falsehood being peddled by the Akeredolu organisation that there is no case in the matter.

“The judgement by Supreme Court today shows that we have a good case.

“Mr Rotimi Akeredolu should toe the line of the noble and resign honourably.

The perpetrated fraud that attended the party governorship primary is open and fresh in the memory of all and sundry.

“Once again we felicitate with the good people of ondo state and lovers of truth all over the world in an assured victory through the court.”

In the meantime, the state APC chapter and the government described the verdict as no issue.

However, the state chapter of APC said Akeredolu remained the governor despite the judgment being celebrated by Abraham’s camp.

He said that the apex court’s verdict is a sheer approval to commence hearing of a case that has not begun.

On his part, the spokesperson of the party, Mr Steve Otaloro jubilation in Abraham’s camp as “political almajiris and confusionists… misinterpreting the apex court’s verdict as outright removal of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from office and to be replaced with the applicant, Abraham.”

Speaking further, he stated: “It’s unfortunate that this group of people decided to confuse members of our party and the good people of Ondo State in favour of their leader.

“Without prejudice to the judgement handed down by the Supreme Court, every member of APC is convinced that the primary was free, fair and transparent.”

Abraham had challenged the governorship primary that produced Akeredolu as the candidate of the party.

Responding, Akeredolu had challenged the processes of service of the court papers to him up to the Supreme Court.