TheCable

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, has asked candidates of the other political parties who ran against him in November, to join him in taking the state “to the next level.”

Bello spoke in reaction to the affirmation of his election by the supreme court.

The apex court had dismissed the appeals filed by Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Natasha Akpoti of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Bello, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the governorship election but his opponents challenged his victory in court.

In a statement, Mohammed Onogwu, his chief press secretary, issued on his behalf, Bello asked his opponents to come together.

He described his victory at the apex court as “an affirmation of the landmark victory entrusted to him by the people of Kogi state at the November 16, 2019 polls.”

“The governor calls 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,” the statement read.

“[The] apex 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 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.”