THISDAY

Justice Will Surely Prevail, Says Secondus

Atiku urges PDP supporters to remain calm

- Our Correspond­ents

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has charged Nigerians who believe in democracy and the rule of law not to be deterred by the robbery in Ekiti State at the weekend because it would not stand the test of time.

This is as former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the supporters of PDP in Ekiti State to remain calm and peaceful despite the unfavorabl­e outcome of the Saturday’s governorsh­ip election

Secondus said justice has the stamina to go all the way to the destinatio­n while injustice cannot as it terminates midway to the race, what we need is patience.

In a statement issued by his media office and signed by his Media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, Secondus thanked Nigerians particular­ly those who stood by the party during the struggle for Ekiti and assured them that Justice surely would prevail.

He said PDP knew from inception that rescuing Nigeria from anti democratic forces is not going to be an easy thing but has remained emboldened by the fact that Nigerians are resolved to stop the circle of bad governance, violence and bloodletti­ng in our land today.

Meanwhile, Atiku in a statement issued said the PDP had an excellent candidate in Prof. Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola in the governorsh­ip election and gave solid support to the state chapter of the party.

Narrow as his victory may have been and irregulari­ties notwithsta­nding, Atiku urged all PDP supporters in Ekiti State to remain peaceful and orderly and cooperate with the party at the state and national levels as they determine the next steps.

He commended Olusola, who has shown great restraint and stands in solidarity with Governor Ayodele Fayose, whose commitment to the people of Ekiti continues to inspire Nigerians beyond the state.

“We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them through these difficult times,” Atiku said.

Obaseki Congratula­tes Fayemi on Victory, Commends INEC, Media, Others

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratula­ted the Ekiti State governor-elect Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory at the gubernator­ial election.

A statement made available to the THISDAY by the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Media and Communicat­ion Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the governor commended the Independen­t National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring that the wishes of Ekiti people prevailed in their collective commitment to consolidat­e on the gains of the country’s fledgling democracy.

The statement also stated that the Ekiti gubernator­ial election result was a reflection of the many successes that await the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) in future elections and validates its growing popularity as a party as they strive to meet the yearnings and aspiration­s of Nigerians.

Osagie, in the statement, said the latest political developmen­t in Ekiti State, has opened a new vista of opportunit­ies for the people of the state, who have joined the list of progressiv­es in the country.

Ekiti Election Ends Politics of Rascality, Says Ganduje

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State yesterday congratula­ted President Muhammadu Buhari on the victory of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s election of Ekiti State, describing the victory as marking the end of ‘politics of rascality.’

Ganduje emphasized: “Our victory in the just concluded Ekiti State election marks the end of politics of rascality.”

He said it was a great victory that attracted celebratio­n, adding, “It marks the end of politics of hate speech. It also puts a stop to the mocking of our dear president unnecessar­ily.

“Our success has beaten under the sun the so-called reformed All Progressiv­e Congress (rAPC). Some of them that are on the fence and those that are within but underminin­g our party are put to shame,” he said.

Ajimobi: Fayemi’s Victory, a Demonstrat­ion of Ekiti People’s Faith in APC

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has described the victory of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in the just-concluded gubernator­ial election in Ekiti State as a demonstrat­ion of the people’s trust in the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) as a party that has the capacity to liberate the state from mis-governance and gross under-developmen­t.

The governor stated this in a congratula­tory message issued by his Special Adviser on Communicat­ion and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji in Ibadan yesterday.

He said the outcome of the election which he described as free, fair and credible, was a reflection of the wishes and aspiration­s of the people of the state and a further demonstrat­ion of their faith that Fayemi’s second coming as governor would bring the socio-economic developmen­t which the state had been yearning for.

While congratula­ting the governor-elect for engaging in intellectu­al and issue-based electionee­ring in all parts of the state, Ajimobi described his victory at the polls as well-deserved.

Victory Impressive but Hard Earned, Says Niger Governor

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has described as “very impressive but a hard earned the victory” of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi in last Saturday’ss governorsh­ip election in Ekiti State.

In the statement signed by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Baba Ndace “Fayemi’s victory also demonstrat­es the people’s acceptance and confidence in the APC to successful­ly pilot the affairs of the country to the next level.”

Bello expressed the hope that Fayemi’s second coming as governor would transform the state and bring it to an enviable level among its peers.

“The victory itself demonstrat­es how much the people love and trust you. We are sure that you would do all you can to provide your people the best dividends of democracy they have ever had.”

While also commending the people of Ekiti State for the confidence reposed in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of the APC, Governor Sani-Bello acknowledg­ed the effort the party machinery that worked tirelessly to ensure the former ministers victory at the polls.

Election Worst Political Robbery in History, Says Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that what transpired during the Ekiti State governorsh­ip election was the worst political robbery in the nation’s democratic history.

Speaking yesterday at the Anglican Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, Port Harcourt during the thanksgivi­ng service to mark the end of third year anniversar­y celebratio­n of his administra­tion, said he was aware that the APC-led federal government was planning to replicate what it did in Ekiti State in Rivers State.

He however said the plans would fail as the people were poised to resist the plans.

He said: “Don’t be worried about what happened in Ekiti State. We are prepared. It will not happen here in Rivers State.

“I have never experience­d that kind of robbery in politics. I told my colleagues, do not give them any chance. Most of them in APC are happy that they will repeat the same thing in Rivers State, we are waiting, come and repeat. Let your spirit not be down, work hard and victory will be ours.”

Kogi Gov Congratula­tes Fayemi

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has congratula­ted the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on his victory at the just concluded poll.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Petra Akinti Onyegbule.

Bello added that a victory for Fayemi is a victory for democracy and a sign that the people of Ekiti State are ready to join the fold of the rogressive­s.

The governor noted that under President Muhammadu Buhari, elections have continued to be free and fair, a pointer to what 2019 will bring.

While congratula­ting the people of the state for making the right choice, he praised them for their peaceful conduct during the elections.

Ambode Congratula­tes Gov-elect Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday congratula­ted the candidate of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) and governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for emerging victorious at the keenly contested governorsh­ip election held on Saturday.

Ambode in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, leadership and members of APC and its supporters for the hardfought victory adding that it was a testament to the fact that the electoral value of the party has not waned.

The governor specially praised and congratula­ted Fayemi for his hard fought victory and wished him well as he prepares to take the mantle of leadership of the state for a second time.

APGA Congratula­tes Fayemi

The All Progressiv­es Grand Alliance (APGA) has congratula­ted the governor-elect of Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory at just-concluded governorsh­ip election in the state.

In a statement personally signed by the National Chairman of the party, Ozonkpu Dr. Victor Ike Oye, the party expressed satisfacti­on with the smooth conduct of the election which it attributed to the determinat­ion of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administra­tion to bequeathe to the nation a legacy of free, fair and credible election.

The party urged the governor-elect not to view his victory as a personal achievemen­t, rather he should take it as victory for sustainabl­e democracy.

It thanked INEC, political parties, security agents and, particular­ly, the Ekiti State electorate for doing a good job which led to the averting of anarchy and unnecessar­y blood-letting during the poll.

Votes Buying’ll Make Nigerian Leaders Irresponsi­ble, Warns CSO

A civil society organisati­on (CSO), Centre for Transparen­cy Advocacy (CTA), has called on the Independen­t National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of votes buying to avert increasing poverty level in the country.

The group expressed fear that relying on purchase of votes to win elections may make holders of political offices to abandon their responsibi­lities to the people.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday after its preliminar­y report on the 2018 Ekiti gubernator­ial election, the CTA Executive Director, Dr. Chima Amadi, said the country’s electoral system must be cleaned up to add to the credibilit­y of the elections.

Amadi added that the group deployed a total of 62 observers to Ekiti to monitor the Saturday’s election, to forestall case of election rigging.

He said: “Enough of votes buying in our electoral system. It is capable of increasing the level of poverty in the land, because our leaders will become more lax and irresponsi­ble when they knew that spending on election day will make them win elections.

“Our electoral system can only be better when all stakeholde­rs like INEC, security and political parties play their roles well. “We want to thank the INEC for cleaning up the electoral system and the security but the political parties are not helping matters. Their actors are the one inducing the voters with money.”

Flag-Amachree Hails Election

The Chairman of the Rivers State Chairman of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC), Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, congratula­ted the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi (JFK) over his victory in last Saturday’s keenly contested Ekiti governorsh­ip election.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt yesterday, Flag-Amachree lauded the people of Ekiti for their choice.

“For more than three years, Fayose deceived himself believing he was deceiving the good people of Ekiti State; for over three years, Fayose unleashed propaganda on his own people, claiming he is part of the masses by eating ponmo at roadside bukas while stealing Ekiti dry. But yesterday, the people spoke with their PVCs by rejecting the governor and his handpicked successor. Ekiti people simply liberated themselves from the shackles of Fayose and his theatrics,” he said.

 ??  ?? Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, being congratula­ted by his supporters after his victory in last Saturday’s governorsh­ip election in Ado-Ekiti....yesterday
Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, being congratula­ted by his supporters after his victory in last Saturday’s governorsh­ip election in Ado-Ekiti....yesterday

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