The decision of the Court of Appeal earlier today, which nullified the election of Engr. Segun Oni and declared Dr. Kayode Fayemi as the duly elected Governor of Ekiti State, is yet one of those bright spots in the annals of our judiciary.

Given the facts of the case that  were clearly in the public domain, especially as it concerns Ido-Osi Local Government Area and the controversial somersault of the then Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, it would have been a travesty of justice, a destruction of democratic ethos, and a day-light political armed-robbery, had the judgment been otherwise.

With this judgment, those remaining dark shadows that are still hanging ominously over the judiciary are beginning to give way. This kind of judgment makes us proud as Lawyers; makes us proud as Nigerians and gives real hope to our democratic future. 

Those who allowed this travesty of justice to reign initially (and by so doing allowed an unelected person to manage the resources of a State for three and half years), notably Professor Maurice Iwu and Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo must be arrested, detained, charged, tried publicly and sentenced to jail with hard labour. This will serve as a painful deterrent to others not to toy with our democratic future.

I want to salute the Justices of the Court of Appeal who gave this resounding judgment for their uprightness, their high integrity, and their legal sagacity. May God bless them and bless their Children.

Nigerians must also rise up and salute Gov. Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the supportive role he continues to play in wrestling some of these states back from the grip of the P.D.P. Any close observer of political trends will acknowledge that Gov. Tinubu has stood firm on the side of the opposition both materially and morally. Gradually, after the “tsunami” of the 2003 elections in the western region of Nigeria, Tinubu has led the onslaught in recovering lost grounds for the Progressives.

Finally, after the celebrations would have died down, the task before His Excellency, Governor Kayode Fayemi will be to justify the confidence reposed in him by good governance, by shunning corruption in the discharge of his duties and by leading his people aright.

I wish him well.

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.