Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has lauded the judiciary "for upholding the tenet of truth and justice" by dismissing the appeal instituted by ousted Governor Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party against him.
Fayemi said this on Friday while reacting to the Supreme Court's dismissal of the appeal filed against him by the ousted governor.
He also thanked the people of the state for standing by him, saying he would continue to deliver dividends of democracy to them.
The governor said there should be a law to punish election robbers to deter others who might want to engage in such corrupt practices.
He said the state would have been spared the distraction caused by Oni had he been punished by the law.
He said, "Oni and his jesters merely sought to use this case to distract us, but we refused to be distracted. We have remained focused all through, concentrating on the development of the state and this is evident in the lives of the people.
"I think we should also put in place laws that will punish electoral offenders. I believe if Oni had been punished for rigging the 2007 governorship election in Ekiti State, he would not have had the effrontery to approach the court again, seeking a back door to the governorship seat.
"It is sad that he rigged the 2007 election and was at the helm of affairs of the state illegally for three-and-a-half years, while I, the winner of the election, was in court until the case was eventually decided in my favour in 2010 at the Court of Appeal."
Fayemi's victory elicited wild jubilation as residents of the state trooped out to celebrate.
Youths and supporters of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in the state gathered at Fajuyi Roundabout in Ado Ekiti to celebrate Fayemi's victory as they sang songs of praises and danced round the town.
Some of the youths, who carried brooms, were seen in vehicles driving at high speed round the town. Some of the party's supporters were seen celebrating with fireworks.
Fayemi's wife, Bisi; the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, and other top government officials thanked the people of the state for their support for the governor and the party.
It was gathered that some PDP supporters had bought vests with which they intended to celebrate had the pendulum swung their way but none of them was seen on the streets as ACN youths took to the streets to celebrate.
Meanwhile, ousted Governor Segun Oni says he still has another case against Justice Ayo Salami, who headed the Court of Appeal panel that sacked him from office on October 15, 2010.
Oni said this at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Tabernacle of Praise, in Ifaki, where a thanksgiving service was organised for him immediately he was briefed about the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict, which stopped him from returning to the Government House.
