The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Ogun East Senatorial District election of March 28, 2015, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described his victory at the National and State Assemblies Elections Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the election of Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party as “God’s doing, that is marvelous in our eyes”.
In a press statement on Sunday, the business mogul and politician also described the success of his petition as a victory for the people of his senatorial district.
Abiodun said: “Our people knew the social, political, economic, cultural, and even religious position and marks of our senatorial district in Nigeria, they knew the right and befitting candidate they voted for. My victory at the Tribunal, is therefore, the victory of the people of Ogun East Senatorial District, our party members and coordinators who worked tirelessly.”
The APC candidate remarked further that his victory at the Tribunal not only came at the right time but also saved the Ogun East people from ridicule.
He said: “My victory, though delayed, came at God’s time, which is the best. It was to serve a purpose. God delayed the victory of Joseph in the Bible for the right time, just as He delayed President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory for the right time. Our victory came at the right time, as it was eagerly expected all over the world. It also removed the tag of ridicule and stain, which our opponent’s false emergence placed on the good, morally upright and hard working people of Ogun East Senatorial District.”
Abiodun therefore called on his followers not to lower their guards even as the full text of the judgment is being awaited, urging them to be law abiding.
He said: “While we await the full text of the judgment of the Tribunal for careful study by my lawyers for a more elaborate response and legal advice, I want to call on all our party men and women, friends and well wishers, in fact, the general public in Ogun East Senatorial District in particular, and Ogun State in general, not to lower our guards in our just and selfless march to entrench people’s participatory democracy in which the votes of our people must count. We should also continue to be law abiding.”
The APC candidate commended the Tribunal judges for serving cause of justice, while not forgetting the judiciary workers, APC national leaders, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, his parents, children, siblings, APC leaders and members in Ogun State, the Director General and members of the Dapo Political Organisation for standing by him “throughout and till now”.
He also commended journalists for their robust coverage of the activities of the Tribunal, adding: “I must also thank the three-man panel of judges for serving the cause of justice, and, according to the well reported comment of The Tribunal Chairman, resisting all attempt to induce and influence the panel. I thank the Secretariat, and all judiciary workers and all those who contributed to the work of the Tribunal from the beginning to the end of the proceedings. Special appreciation to the men and women of the pen profession for their robust coverage of the proceedings at the Tribunal.”
Abiodun, who had described Kashamu’s initial victory as “temporary triumph of evil over good and falsehood over truth”, expressed his staunch belief in justice.
He quoted Malcom X to emphasise his belief: “I am for truth, no matter who tells it. I am for justice, no matter who it is for, or against.”