THE governor -elect in Ondo State, MrRotimiAkeredolu, on Wednesday, commended his opponents in the last governorship election in the state, over their display of sportsmanship.
Akeredolu, who made the commendation during an interaction with newsmen in his home town Owo, specifically commended the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), EyitayoJegede and OlusolaOke, respectively for accepting the result of the election, saying it showed the nation’s democracy was coming of age.
Noting that the election was peaceful, free and fair, he commended the duo for their display of understanding and spirit of sportsmanship by not challenging the result of the election at the Election Petition Tribunal.
He explained that that the bold steps taken by the two contestants would afford him the opportunity to concentrate on governance rather than spending time and energy before anelection petition tribunal.
Akeredolu said:“I have to praise my other contestants, especially, MrEyitayoJegede and MrOlusolaOke. I am sure that they have seen, as senior lawyers, that we are in a position to accept the result of an election, having assess all the parametres we believe the election was free and fair and I want to believe that their attitude is worthy of note and all of us, at least should try to emulate that in subsequent elections.
“They must have weighed all the options that there must have been substantial compliance to electoral acts by deciding not to challenge the result, that is a decision that is worthy of note and I want to thank them.”
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for the smooth conduct of the election.
“It is not because I won the election. I believe INEC is perfecting its act,they are moving towards the level of acceptable election. If they (INEC) get to that level, so many more elections will not be contested at the tribunal,” the governor-elect stated.