By Dapo Akinrefon
FORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has described the judgement of Dr Kayode Fayemi as governor of Ekiti State as a victory for democracy just as he commended the judiciary for living up to its expectation.

Speakin with Vanguard in telephone interview, Mr Akeredolu said “I think the judgement is a victory for democracy, it was clear to all of us and to those who stand up for democracy that the election in Ekiti State was clearly a manipulation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Now that victory has been restored to the rightful person, I think the judiciary has once again lived up to expectation. It is victory for democracy.”

On his part, constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay called for prosecution of Engineer Segun Oni over allegation of fraud arguing that he should refund all he has received while he was in office.

Sagay said “my reaction is that the wheels of justice may grind slowly, but when finally it completes its journey, the result can be very sweet. In this particular case, justice has been reinstated; the chalatans and crooks who have hijacked Ekiti State,  have been exposed and to their eternal shame and disgrace.”

Speaking further, he said “apart from installing the person who was properly elected, we must now demand that Segun Oni should pay back all he has received in the four years and possibly be prosecuted for electoral fraud.

He should be an example to desperate politicians who steal mandates and impose themselves on the innocent population.”

Also, former Minister of External Affairs and a stalwart of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Tom Ikimi, expressed delight over the outcome of the judgement.

He stated that “we are very pleased that at last, we have won Ekiti State. Although, it has come after three years and seven months after the conduct of the 2007 elections, this underscores the convinction that we have had over the management of elections in Nigeria particularly during the tenure of Olusegun Obasanjo.”

In addition, he said “it has confirmed all that we have said that the elections of 2007 was the most rigged elections in the history of Nigeria. Now that we have won Ekiti, the strength of ACN will be well established and will be the party to watch during the next elections in 2011. We pray that the 2011 elections will be free, fair and credible. I extend my warmest congratulations to Dr Kayode Fayemi.”