member representing Ankpa Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims has congratulated Governor Yahaya Bello and his Deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja, on their victory at the Governorship Election Petition Appeal.
The federal lawmaker rejoiced with the Government and people of Kogi State in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, the judgment is a victory for the ordinary Kogites, who stood their grounds against ethnic and other trivial issues to vote massively for the APC during the November 16th election.
He said that he was not surprised at the outcome of the Appeal Court verdict in view of the majority ruling in support of the Governor’s election during the tribunal ruling, and the glaring acceptability of his candidature across the State.
“I have always known that any legal challenge to his victory is just an academic exercise because the people have spoken clearly,’’ Halims said.
According to the federal lawmaker, the opposition has the right to seek legal redress on the outcome of the 2019 governorship election in the state but with the resounding judgement at the tribunal and appellate court, it is time to concede defeat and join hands to move the state forward.
“The judgment only affirmed the position of the people of Kogi, who appreciate the unity, commitment, patriotism, and resolve of His Excellency to a better Kogi State,” the Rep added.
He called on Kogites across party lines to rally round the Governor to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
Also, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole has congratulated Governor Yahaya Bello and Chief David Edward Onoja, on their victory at the Court of Appeal in Abuja against the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Engr. Musa Wada, Natasha Akpoti of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Peoples Party, (APP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) respectively.
The Speaker said it is heartwarming to receive the cheering news of the well deserved victory, stressing that truly those petitions lacked merit stressing that Jurists at the Appeal Court has done justice to uphold the decision of the Tribunal.
He said the dismissal of all the cases are long envisaged as many of the points canvassed by the petitioner is based on hearsay, noting that the Appeal Court is on the right track.
He further said that the victory wouldn’t have come at a better time than this with the rigorous campaigns that earned the majority votes of the electorates across the 21 Local Government Areas in the State.
He urged the oppositions to drop whatever grievances they might have and join hands with Governor Yahaya Bello to move the State to the next level of development, noting that the election held on the 16th November, 2019 was squarely won by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Governor Yahaya Bello overwhelmingly
He said the legislative arm under his watch with his colleagues will continue to collaborate with the Executive and other stakeholders to make laws that will enable Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration to do more for the people of the State.
In a similar vein, the immediate past Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Kogi State, Prince Sani Ogu Salisu also joined well wishers in celebrating with Governor Yahaya Bello on his victory at the Kogi State Election Petition Appeal, describing the verdict of the Appeal Court Judges as expected.
In his congratulatory message, Prince Salisu noted that the verdict “confirmed our stance that Gov Bello remains the preferred leader at this time, to reset our State on the path of greatness.
“I heartily congratulate His Excellency and His Deputy on their well-deserved victory at the Governorship Election Petition Appeal on Saturday, 4th July, 2020, which is a resounding affirmation of the choice of Kogites on 16th November last year for a second term in office.
“It is refreshing that we have reached this threshold and I am confident that this outcome would enhance this administration’s resolve in advancing the EBIGO agenda of the New Direction Government.”
Prince Salisu saluted the courage of the five man panel in upholding the mandate given by hundreds of thousands of Kogi people. He lauded the erudition of the Governor’s legal team, who the youthful Honorable said remained focussed “even in the face of everyday propaganda by the opposition’’.
