Supreme Court verdict reaffirmed Makinde’s, PDP’s acceptance  -PDP…Congratulates Gov•••Victory,  triumph of justice, people’s will—Oduyoye

Supreme Court verdict reaffirmed Makinde’s, PDP’s acceptance  -PDP
…Congratulates Gov

•••Victory,  triumph of justice, people’s will—Oduyoye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has congratulated Governor Seyi Makinde over the Supreme Court judgment, which upheld his electoral victory on Wednesday.
The party in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, said the verdict reaffirmed the general acceptance of PDP and the Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, as reflected in the landslide victory recorded at the March, 2019 election in Oyo State.
The party said the report of celebrations across the state at the breaking of the news of the verdict was a testimony that, indeed, justice was upheld in the ruling.
The PDP commended the people of the State for their resolve to protect their mandate from the shenanigans of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the massive solidarity and support from the people for Governor Makinde made the mandate untouchable.
The statement read: “The PDP in Oyo State salutes the steadfastness and unalloyed support exhibited by the party members and most especially the good people of Oyo State while the unnecessary litigation was going on.
“The support and solidarity from the people were massive and they made the mandate given to Governor Makinde untouchable. This, we commend and view as a positive step in our democratic experience, as it became evident that, indeed, the voice of the people would always prevail over the forces of darkness whenever the people stand for what is right.
“Even though the major intentions of APC and its candidate were to distract Governor Seyi Makinde in his avowed commitment to deliver dividends of democracy to the nook and crannies of Oyo State, the Governor has summoned courage and has continued to deliver on his electoral promises to the surprise of the opposition.
“We are using this opportunity to assure the people of the State that the Governor, as he continued to restate at every given opportunity, will not relent in his determination to develop the State and bring about unprecedented development.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court has come at the right time and it can only be an encouragement for the PDP government in Oyo State to consolidate the path of progress and development which Governor Makinde’s administration has designed in its determination to transform Oyo State to an economic hub of Nigeria.”

In another development, the affirmation of the victory of Governor Seyi Makinde in the March 9, 2019 governorship election by the Supreme Court on Wednesday has been described as a triumph for justice and the power of the people to democratically determine their leaders.
Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, who stated this in reaction to the ruling of the apex court, said that the Supreme Court must be commended for its apparent courage and forthrightness in the face of undue pressure by certain elements to pervert the cause of justice in the election petition matter.
Oduyoye, who stated this in Abuja, shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment, which validated the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal to uphold the election of Governor Makinde, declared that the ruling of the apex court further affirmed the fact that the court remained the last hope of the people.
According to Oduyoye, the unanimous judgment by the Supreme Court “confirmed that technicalities cannot take the place of the people’s power and that only the ballot box can determine the fate of political office holders.”
“We are happy that the Supreme Court has affirmed what we knew all along- that the people of Oyo State overwhelmingly voted for Governor Seyi Makinde in a free, fair and credible election on March 9, 2019, when they elected him with over 515,621.
“Today, the shameless voyage embarked upon by peddlers of lies and desperation in Oyo State politics came to a decisive end with the unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court, which validated the election of Governor Seyi Makinde.
“That judgment, in which all seven justices of the apex court agreed with the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State and the minority judgement of the Court of Appeal, that Governor Makinde had, indeed, won the election and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to prove its case, is a triumph of justice and fairness. It is a vindication of the people, who voted for massively for Governor Makinde.
“Now that the people have won, as Governor Makinde’s victory is a victory for the good people of Oyo State, who have been enjoying good times under his leadership, the Governor is prepared to continue to deliver on his promises to the electorate.
“The Governor deeply appreciates the courage of the judiciary, the support of the Oyo State electorate and everyone who took part in the struggle to ensure that justice and fairness prevailed in the face of the pressures mounted by the opposition politicians to snatch the mandate given to him.
“Governor Makinde has, by the show of solidarity and support, been encouraged to continue to deliver excellent service to his State and its people.”