APPEAL COURT VERDICT: POROYE CONGRATULATES AKEREDOLU & AIYEDATIWA, INSISTS THAT MINOR PRAYERS RULED IN FAVOUR OF JEGEDE MUST BE CHALLENGED AT THE SUPREME COURT FOR POSTERITY
An APC chieftain and Chairman Emerging Political Platform in Ondo State, Prince Poroye Biyi Bill, has congratulated Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for their victory at the Appeal Court but insisted that some of the minor prayers ruled in favour of Eyitayo Jegede must not be overlooked but rather be challenged at the Supreme Court for posterity.
Prince Poroye stated this in Abuja while speaking with Coastal Renaissance online on a phone conversation.
You would recall that the PDP candidate in the last October 2020 Governorship Election in Ondo State had approached the appellate court saying Akeredolu’s nomination by his party was ‘unconstitutional’.
The appeal court’s Judgement read by Theresa Orji-Abadua, on Wednesday 16th June, 2021, said the case filed by Mr. Eyitayo Jegede lacked merit.
“The appeal is partly allowed and partly dismissed and the appellant’s case is also dismissed,” she said in the judgment delivered virtually.
“In concluding her lead judgment, Hon. Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua said the appeal dismissed.
Poroye while reacting to the judgment, said some of the prayers ruled in favour of Eyitayo Jegede by the appeal court must not be overlooked by the APC leaders but rather be challenged at the Supreme Court for posterity.
“The kernel of the Eyitayo Jegede/PDP petition was whether or not a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) should be allowed to stay. Whether or not Mai Mala Buni, as a sitting Governor of Yobe State can double as National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, to sign the nomination of Rotimi Akeredolu, for the governorship election. While the Court of Appeal acknowledged some constitutional procedures of the Constitution, it still went ahead to dismiss the appeal,” the statement read.
On the other hand, Poroye said the judgment was an affirmation of the position of the electoral law which had been earlier established by the Tribunal Judgement. He further noted that Mala Buni as a sitting Governor has immunity and he can never be sued in any court, stressing that the petitioner cannot join him in the case.
