Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle on Saturday urged the gubernatorial candidate of Allied People’s Movement APM, Hon Adekunle Akinlade to withdraw the appeal he filed at the Supreme Court against Governor Dapo Abiodun’s election.
Akinlade is from Yewaland and his traditional ruler spoke at the 2019 Ilaro Oronna festival sponsored by Dangote group and MTN Nigeria.
Ọba Olugbenle urged Akinlade on behalf of other traditional rulers in Yewaland to withdraw the case for his Political future.
He said ‘I am very proud of Akinlade as Yewa son and dogged fighter, since he had lost in Court of Appeal, Ibadan, he didn’t need to go further to Supreme Court.”
Among those who honoured this year festival included the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako Oyedele, Chief of Staff to Governor Abiodun, Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Former Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salimot Badru, Chief Adigun Socopau, Chief Reuben Abati, Special Adviser on Government House, Hon Suraju Adekunbi, Hon Ifekayode Akinbode, Chief M.A Ajibola, and many others.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, November 11, 2019, dismissed the petition filed by the Akinlade against the victory of the governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Prince Abiodun in the last governorship election in the state.
Appeal court justices in a unanimous judgment said the appeal “lacks merit and it is therefore struck out.”
Before then, the three-man state governorship election petitions tribunal, led by Justice Yusuf Halilu, while dismissing the petition and upholding Abiodun’s election, described Akinlade’s petition, challenging Abiodun’s victory, as “lazy and destined to fail”.