TheCable

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, has called on Eyitayo Jegede, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support his administration to build the state.

On Tuesday, the state election petition tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Jegede, who challenged Akeredolu’s victory in the October 10, 2020 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akeredolu as winner of the election, having polled a total of 292,830 votes to defeat Jegede, who secured 195,791 votes.

Speaking after the tribunal’s verdict, Akeredolu thanked the people of the state for the confidence reposed in his administration.

He also called on Jegede to avoid litigation and join hands with him for the betterment of the state, adding that there is no victor, no vanquished.

“I must use this opportunity to thank the people of this state for the confidence they reposed in us. The people have spoken and they cannot be wrong,” he said.

“The result is there for all of us to see. It is a victory for all time and it has never happened in this state before, but we thank God for this victory. We thank God for the judgment of the tribunal.

“I want to thank my brother, Eyitayo Jegede, who is not just a brother but also my learned brother. He is somebody I respect a lot and he knows that; I see him as a friend. I want to call on him and implore him — let us join hands together; there is no need for litigation.

“There is room for many and more, and I believe that we can join hands together and work together to build the state. He loves the state and I don’t have doubt about it as a gentleman par excellence.

“I don’t see this as any victory: no victor, no vanquished. It is just for us as contestants. Just like a game, you win some, you lose some; you can’t win them all. We thank God today that we are victorious.”