Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Uno, has dedicated his serial victories at the election petitions tribunal to God and the people.
Six candidates of the opposition parties had sought the nullification of the governorship election of March 18, 2023, which Eno won.
At the weekend, the governor hailed the judgements declared serially in the last four days by the three- man Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal chaired by Justice Adekunle Adeleye as victory for the people.
Eno said the serial victories were a reconfirmation of the wishes of Akwa Ibom people freely expressed on March 18. The governor, in his appreciation address in Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, dedicated the laurel to God and the people, and commended the tribunal for painstakingly assessing all the allegations levelled against him in the petitions before deciding on the merits and demerits of the case.
The six dismissed petitions against Eno’s election, LEADERSHIP checks revealed, include those brought by the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), governorship candidate, John Akpanudoedehe; Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Mr Akpan Jeremiah of the Action Alliance (AA).
Others are Mr Emem Coffie, of the Accord Party (AP); Obong Akanimo Udofia, All Progressives Congress (APC); as well as Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
While extending his hands of fellowship to the petitioners, Governor Eno admonished the people to embrace peace and eschew politics of bitterness, reminding aggrieved parties that it was time for them to be part of his administration to move the state forward “because politics is over, this is the time for governance.”
He said, “I dedicate this victory to you, the people of Akwa Ibom State, who on March 18th, 2023, came out and massively voted for me to usher in the Golden Era in continuation of the giant strides we have experienced in this state, 36 years after creation.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank and celebrate the Nigerian judiciary for the patriotic job they are doing to safeguard and consolidate our democracy. My faith in this critical institution remains rock-solid.
“As I have always said, politics is over, it’s time for governance. I call on my brothers, Distinguished Senator John Akpanudoedehe, Architect Ezekiel Nya-Etok, Obong Akanimo Udofia, Emem Coffie, Akpan Jeremiah and Senator Obong Bassey Albert, to join me in building a state, founded on shared aspirations for growth, development, unity and brotherhood,” he said.
