THE election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as governor of Nigeria’s south-western state of Ekiti was validated for the
second time in almost three years on Friday, this time by the country’s Supreme Court, effectively ending one of the longest running court-battles in the annals of election petitions in Nigeria.
The ruling was unanimous, as all seven judges serving at the Supreme Court supported the dismissal of the petition filed by Mr. Segun Oni, who challenged a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal which saw his removal from office as then-governor of Ekiti State on October 15, 2010.
As was the case in 2010, the streets of the state capital of Ado-Ekiti erupted in jubilation on Friday, with supporters of Dr. Fayemi seen singing and dancing while waving the party symbol of brooms. Photos of the celebratory mood were captured and published on the state website. Citizen journalists also posted photos of the celebrations.
The jubilation of the Apex Court ruling resulted in traffic snarls in different parts of the capital. A convoy of vehicles conveying First Lady Bisi Fayemi was seen snaking its way through the crowd, as the singing and dancing continued. Mrs. Fayemi was seen holding the party symbol of a broom and celebrating with the crowd.
Also in the jubilant entourage was the recently appointed Deputy Governor
Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, along with the secretary to the state government, Mr. Ganiyu Owolabi and Governor Fayemi’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu.
The victory comes shortly after the passing of Mr. Fayemi’s former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, who had been with Governor Fayemi throughout the battle to claim and retain his mandate as governor.
Mrs.Olayinka died on April 6, 2013, after battling complications associated with what was reported to be breast cancer. She was buried with full state honors on Friday, April 26, 2013 in a ceremony that saw many people trooping to Ekiti State.
A brief statement on the Supreme Court ruling was issued by Governor Fayemi on Friday, as seen on the government website and on the personal and government Facebook accounts of Governor Fayemi and Ekiti State respectively.
“JKF ‘s governorship has this minute been affirmed by the Supreme Court by a full majority decision of 7 to 0,” the brief statement read, thanking God and congratulating the people of Ekiti State on the victory.
Governor Fayemi’s rival in the 2007 election, Mr. Segun Oni, had served briefly as governor between May 29, 2007 and 15 October 2010, after he was declared winner under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
But the Kayode Fayemi campaign organization, registered with the Action Congress of Nigeria, fought for almost 3 years to regain what it believed was a stolen mandate. The verdict of the court answered its plea on October 15, 2010, when it declared that Mr. Fayemi was the duly elected candidate of the 2007 elections.
Prior to the Court of Appeal verdict, Mr. Fayemi and his political party had waged political battles on several fronts, criticizing every move by the then-incumbent administration of Mr. Segun Oni in Ekiti State. The media wars proved especially distracting for Oni Administration while it lasted.