Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has said the judgments of the Supreme Court upholding his election for a second term in office as G of Kogi State was an affirmation of the landmark victory entrusted to him by the people of Kogi State at the November 16, 2019 election.
Governor Yahaya Bello polled a total of 406,222 votes against his closest rival, the PDP candidate who polled 189,704 votes with a winning margin of 216,518 votes.
The Supreme Court which last Tuesday, August 25, heard appeals filed by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the respective judgments of the Court of Appeal which earlier upheld decisions of the Kogi State elections petitions tribunal dismissing their various petitions against the governor and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) to the governor, Bello said the Supreme Court’s decision upholding his victory is an affirmation of the identical positions on the matters taken by the erudite jurists at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
The Governor praised the panel of five justices led by Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammadu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria which heard the appeals and Hon Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji CFR who read this morning’s judgment alone. Appreciating the court for her uprightness and erudition, the Governor thanked the entire citizens of the state for casting their votes for him and joining him to defend same to the end. He assured them that his administration will continue to do more and more for them in line with his campaign slogan.
The Governor used the moment to pay tribute to His Royal Majesty, Dr. Micheal Idakwo, Ameh Oboni II, the late Attah of Igala who passed on last week. He described the late traditional ruler as ‘a unifier’ who was a great supporter of his administration, a father and a wise counsellor.
The Governor called on the other parties and their candidates to forgo all forms of bitterness and division and join hands with him to take Kogi to the next level.