Tension mounts in Ekiti as S-Court rules on Oni's petition today

There is a palpable tension in Ado Ekiti,  Ekiti State capital, as the people of the state await today's judgment of the Supreme Court over the suit instituted by former governor of the state, Mr.  Segun Oni, urging the apex court to set aside the Court of Appeal's judgement of October 15, 2010, that removed him from office.

Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, said he had a meeting with the leaders of the two  parties where they promised to caution their supporters against fomenting trouble before, during and after the judgement.

The Command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said: 'We are monitoring the situation very closely.

'We invited all the leaders of the political parties on Tuesday, and it was agreed  that they will talk to their supporters and party members in view of today's judgement to ensure that there is peace in the state.

'Our intelligence unit had been sent out to gather information from the public. We have also deployed our men to all strategic positions across the state to forestall breakdown of law and order that may arise as a result of the judgement. So, we don't foresee crisis before, during and after the judgement.'

It could be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, had in its decision on the matter set aside the judgement of the lower tribunal which  upheld Oni's election as the validly elected governor of the state in 2007.

The court in its decision ordered a re-run election which was held in 2009

However, after living office, Oni,  not satisfied with the decision of the court, approached the Ado Ekiti division of the court, alleging bias and favoritism on the part of the suspended president of the court, Justice Ayo Salami and the members of the tribunal.

Specifically, Oni is seeking an order setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti division delivered on Monday,  February 27, 2012.

He,is equally seeking an  order  directing  a fresh Panel of the Court of Appeal to hear and determine the aforesaid appeal in (ii) above de novo.

An order directing the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to take over the governance of Ekiti State, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal in (ii) above by the Court of Appeal.