EKITI POLL SCANDAL: Fayose Risks Prison Terms After Office

Gov. Ayo Fayose

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State who hitherto was almost certified as the best political player and grass-root politician in the country following the “outstanding victories” recorded against all his opponents in the previous elections in his state has eventually turned out to be a master rigger and enemy of democracy.  

Incontrovertibly, since the mind-blowing revelations from the former Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State, Dr. Temitope Aluko indicating and exposing how the controversial governor maneuvered the electoral process and rode to the corridors of power alongside all the PDP candidates in the state, the public have been subjected to confusions as to what would be the next line of action putting into consideration that the Supreme Court though deceived, had ruled on the matter based on false evidences presented before it.

Incidentally, Fayose is presently clothed with immunity from criminal prosecutions in line with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and therefore will remain in office until his tenure elapsed. Essentially, he would be shielded by res judicata which puts a bar to all the courts to abide by the decisions of the superior court in the land.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, his major contender in the State has labeled the governor as a great threat to the democracy on account of criminal dimensions adopted in delivering the State to his party, PDP. In similar vein, notable Nigerians have frowned on the discoveries which reasonably would amount to gross misconducts and lead to impeachment proceedings by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Unfortunately, he smartly secured almost all the seats of the House through the same crooked and dubious means.

APC and the ruling party in the State have continued to trade words indiscriminately accusing and counter-accuse each other. While the former accuses the PDP of lack of integrity, the former alleges of plots of the APC to create crises in the state.

“We want to remind Fayose that many of his party leaders who still have a modicum of integrity, have also left in droves because they could not stand the shame he has brought upon them through the Ekitigate scandal planned and executed by him and some of his cohorts. Fayose is being hunted by his criminal past and there is no way he will meet his comeuppance no matter how he tries to evade justice”, APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun stated.

Similarly, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Femi Falana did not mince words to has criticize the predicament stating that the governor should not use immunity to promote impunity. That’s remarkable but cannot change anything. Unless the apex court would be willing to review the judgment based on the fact that the principal witness in the appeal lied under oath and the evidences it used to arrive at its conclusion were “certified fake-copies”. The office of the governor however reacted and concluded that Falana was being partisan.

"The same Falana said in an interview in Punch newspaper on July 15, 2014 that Ekiti governorship election was not rigged and that Fayose won fair and square, only to come back close to 18 months after to say that the election was fraudulent. Honestly, Oga Femi Falana must hold in clear terms that his hypocrisy on Ekiti State politics, especially concerning Governor Fayose is fast turning to sound from a broken record. If he is pained with Fayose as his governor, he should wait till 2018 to try his luck and let's see how far he will be able to go," Lere Olaynka, Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media stated.

It would be recalled that the senior Advocate had earlier hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on June 22, 2014 which affirmed the election of Gov Fayose as duly elected and dismissed the appeal filed by the APC’s candidate for lack of merit. Based on that, the State chapter of the PDP in conjunction with the governor has continued to criticize Falana adding that his actions amounted to “double standard” having stood by the Supreme Court verdict earlier and now changed position. 

Splendidly, neither the Supreme Court nor Falana would be blamed as they arrived at the conclusions strictly based on deductive reasoning vis-à-vis the evidences presented before it without knowing that the evidences were cooked up. The opponents of Falana were simply getting it wrong. It supported the verdict based on fraudulent evidences tendered before the court and with the present discovery, should rationally change position accordingly.

Following the deadly exposure, the governor immediately reported the matter seeking for the prosecution of Aluko over alleged perjury knowing that he (Fayose) cannot be prosecuted on account of his office as the governor of a state recognized in Nigeria by the constitution.  

Objectively, Fayose by the discovery masterminded the militarization and printing of INEC’s ballot papers and other materials which contravened the Electoral Act as well as the Criminal Code (Laws of the Federation), and could be liable to terms of imprisonment if found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Indeed, the actions should be condemned in all quarters rather than politicization. The ballot papers and all electoral materials are sacred documents as important as the constitution of the country, hence should not be swept under the carpet.

No doubt, the governor cannot be removed by any other means except the State House of Assembly, however, criminal charges do not easily become obsolete by time. Suffice to say that the governor on completion of his tenure could be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others. The evil days are therefore awaiting Fayose after his tenure in office.