Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State says no court can remove Biodun Oyebanji, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the winner of the June 18 governorship election in the state.
Oyebanji, popularly known as BAO, was declared the winner of the election after winning 15 out of the 16 local government areas in the state.
The All Progressives Congress candidate secured 187,057 votes, defeating Oni who polled 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 67,457 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the governorship poll, Oni filed a petition against Oyebanji and the APC before a three-member tribunal chaired by Wilfred Kpochi.
Other members of the tribunal panel are Sa’ad Zadawa and Jacob Atsen, while other respondents in the case are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the APC chairman.
Speaking on Tuesday in Aramoko during a ‘thank you’ visit to Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Fayemi who is expected to hand over to Oyebanji on October 16, boasted that no court can remove the governor-elect.
He also described Oni as an entertainer for taking the matter to court.
“BAO is everyone’s leader and it’s what he wants that we all we do. We’ll give him advice but he is the one chosen by Ekiti people. It’s not government by extension, BAO will be in charge from October 16.
“Though, some people are still entertaining themselves in court, hope you are aware I know much about the court. I’m not a lawyer but I know much about the court, I also know when someone is entertaining himself in court.
“Anybody that wants to entertain himself in court, leave them alone to go ahead and do that. No court can sack the governor we voted for. Even God has stamped the incoming government,” he said.
Condemning the governor’s speech, an Ekiti-born lawyer who identified himself as Aribasoye said, “It’s sad that a governor can openly boast that he already took care of the judiciary, or what does he mean by no court can sack his stooge?
“Even in Imo, the court declared someone who came 4th as governor? Is there anything the governor is hiding from Ekiti people?
“He also claimed that all those in court are mere entertainers, is he indirectly calling the court a bar or club? Isn’t it their fundamental rights to be in court? Saying the court can’t rule against his interests in whatever situation is an insult to the judiciary.”