The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the elections Ifeanyi Okowa, Abiola Ajimobi and Ibrahim Geidam as governors of Delta, Oyo and Yobe states respectively.
In separate unanimous judgments, the seven-man bench of the court dismissed all the appeals challenging the elections of the three governors.
The Justices said they would give reasons for its judgments on February 15.
Ajimobi’s election was challenged by the Accord Party candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election and former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
Mr Ladoja had earlier lost at both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to the judgment, Ajimobi said “the Supreme Court has graciously freed the people of Oyo State from the painful distractions mounted on their path by Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his Accord Party in the past many months.”
He recounted that three times the victory of Senator Abiola Ajimobi at the 2015 governorship election was challenged, three times he has been declared winner.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, Ajimobi said: “Although all men and women of goodwill pleaded with the Ladoja camp to accept defeat and cooperate with the winner in the onerous task of rebuilding the legacies of our heroes past, they bluntly refused.
“Although other contestants from other parties quickly conceded defeat and indeed proceeded to congratulate the winner, Senator Ladoja and his party refused to play the gallant losers, preferring instead to fight to the finish.
“But we were never for once bothered knowing full well that the people had spoken so clearly and unmistakably on that historic April day by returning a vote of confidence in the candidate in whom they were well pleased.
“Now that their fight is exhausted and their wind vanes broken, we hope Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his band will henceforth turn their energies to better and more productive ends in the interest of our dear state and its development.”
Ajimobi, the state said, is using the moment to thank God, as always, just as he expressed profound thanks to the good people of Oyo State for their steadfastness to the collective vision of a renewed and sustainable state.
“Such similar appreciations go the esteemed members of the Nigerian judiciary for their sustained efforts at offering hope to all citizens and justice to all, without let or hindrance.
“Now that the distractions are out of the way, the good works will continue in earnest. I thank the people of the state for their support and resilience over the years and I promise to redouble my efforts at taking the state to greater height.
“I’m using this opportunity to call on my brother, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and others still in the opposition to join hands with us and take our state to another level that will be different from a village.
“Thank God Senator Ladoja is moving closer to the Olubadan throne now. Let them make him Olubadan so that he will stop all this political fight. God has destined me to spend eight years as the governor of Oyo State by the popular mandate of the people.
“I thank the people of Oyo State for their steadfastness. It’s victory for all of us,” the statement concluded.
Ladoja, in a statement signed by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, thanked all party faithful and everyone who supported him during the course of the election and judicial process.
“This is the time to join hands with the governor to move the state forward as the judgment of the Supreme Court has put finality to the election process,” the former governor said.
He further stated that he will continue to offer himself to the service and improvement of the state and encouraged all well meaning citizens of Oyo state to work and pray for the governor towards the betterment of the state adding that it’s only in a peaceful atmosphere that true development can take place.
