An interest group, Ekiti Redemption Group (ERG), has urged the judiciary to revisit the April 14, 2015 judgment, which validated the election of Mr. Ayo Fayose as Ekiti State Governor.
Since winning the June 21, 2014 governorship election, allegations of high-level rigging have continued to trail Mr. Fayose’s victory with a former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, Dr. Tope Aluko, exposing how the Presidency allegedly used public funds and security agencies to secure victory.
The governor has persistently maintained his stance that he won the election free and fair, accusing the All Progressives Congress, APC, of refusing to accept defeat, despite the Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his election.
However, the ERG called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police to arrest all those indicted in the manipulation of the election, which it described as “heinous crime against Ekiti people”.
Speaking yesterday, National Coordinator of the group, Morakinyo Ogele, called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to ensure the prosecution of the civilians named in what is now dubbed “Ekitigate”.
Mr. Ogele pointed out that the military has led the way in sanctioning its officers and men, who colluded with civilians to rig the election, saying the onus now lies with the aggrieved party (APC) to re-present its case in the nation’s highest court, the Supreme Court, in the light of new evidences.
According to the ERG, the new facts of alleged fraud in the 2014 governorship poll had not come to light at the time the apex court upheld Fayose’s return in the suit filed by the APC.
Ogele, however, commended the former Commissioner for Works and Transportation in the state, Kayode Oso, for resigning from the Fayose administration “instead of framing up the DSS and attacking the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
