Ekiti APC seeks unity after S’Court affirms Oyebanji’s candidacy

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has called on its members and stakeholders to unite behind Governor Biodun Oyebanji following the Supreme Court judgment affirming him as the party’s valid candidate for the June 20 governorship election.

In a statement on Friday by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Segun Dipe, the party hailed the apex court verdict, describing it as a victory for internal democracy, the rule of law and the collective will of APC members in Ekiti State.

The case, instituted by an APC governorship aspirant, Abimbola Olawunmi, challenged the outcome of the party’s governorship primaries that produced Oyebanji as the candidate of the APC.

The matter went through the High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which upheld Oyebanji’s candidacy.

In a unanimous judgment on Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed Olawumi’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the appellate court.

Commenting on the verdict, the APC said, “The judgment has finally laid to rest all legal issues surrounding the Governor’s candidacy and has further strengthened the legitimacy of the landslide mandate given to him by Ekiti people on June 20.

“We congratulate Governor Oyebanji on this judicial affirmation. More importantly, we commend him for his humility and magnanimity throughout this period. Despite winning the primaries, winning the election with a landslide, and now having the Supreme Court affirm it, he has remained focused, peaceful, and inclusive.”

The party called on all party members and stakeholders “to see the judgment as a call to greater unity and to support the governor as he continued to implement his agenda for shared prosperity.”

It noted that instead of distractions, the governor chose governance. Instead of bitterness, he chose development. And instead of exclusion, he chose to carry all Ekiti people along.

“This is the Oyebanji experiment in action. Power has not changed him. Victory has not made him arrogant. Litigation has not made him vindictive. That is why Ekiti people trust him,” the statement added.

The APC thanked the judiciary for upholding justice and protecting democracy, and congratulated President Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee for their support.