Kogi: Hon Tiamiyu hails Ododo’s tribunal victory

The Special Adviser on Corporate Affairs to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, Hon Fancy Jimoh Tiamiyu, has hailed the recent tribunal victory of the governor, describing the verdict as a welcome development for Kogites.

Tiamiyu, who was the Director General (DG) of All Progressives Congress (APC)/Ododo Governorship Campaign Organisation in Lokoja Local Government Area, in a statement issued on Friday, said Governor Ododo convincingly and transparently won the Kogi guber poll held November 11, 2023.

He wondered why anyone would bother to go to the tribunal to challenge such a free, fair and credible election where the voters came out en masse to vote Ododo as their preferred candidate for the gubernatorial job.

He added that the mammoth crowd that gathered to welcome the governor into the state after the tribunal victory in Abuja was a clear indication of the people’s joy over the development.

“I congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on his triumph at the tribunal.

“The sound and unassailable judgement of the tribunal panel was evidently an affirmation of the mandate freely and willingly given to the Governor by the people of Kogi State, who strongly believed that he was the most trusted and reliable in terms of capacity and competence among the candidates that vied for the gubernatorial seat,” Tiamiyu averred.

The APC stalwart noted that “Ododo’s emergence as governor, taking over from Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was the best thing that has happened to Kogi State, considering the remarkable feats he has so far achieved even within his first 100 days in office. Obviously, Governor Ododo has within the short period he has spent in office proven his mettle as a pragmatic, resourceful and visionary leader who knows his onions about governance and fully prepared for the task.

“It is therefore expedient for all Kogites to continue to give the needed support to the incumbent governor as he works tirelessly to build on the solid foundation laid by the immediate past governor to lift the state to greater heights. The members of the opposition fighting the governor should sheathe their sword and join hands with the Ododo administration in the interest of the state. Ododo’s victory was destined and ordained by God. Therefore, anyone trying to use the tribunal or court to unseat him is just wasting his time.

“The massive crowd of Kogites that came from different parts of Kogi to accord the governor a rousing welcome upon his return to the state from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the judgement in his favour, showed that the people are highly elated and joyous about his triumphant outing at the tribunal. They are happy that the election of the man (Ododo) they truly voted for has been duly validated by the tribunal panel.”

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had upheld the victory of Ododo, the APC candidate in the November 11, 2023 Kogi governorship election.

The three-member panel led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, ruled that the petition brought before the tribunal by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, was bereft of substance and accordingly dismissed it.