My opponents cannot upturn my victory – Akala

Gboyega Adeoye, Lagos - 20.01.2008

Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, whose victory in the last poll is being contested in an election petition tribunal, has assured of retaining his seat despite the myriad of evidences levelled against him.

The governor, who spoke with journalists on Saturday at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on his way to Ghana for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Nations’ Cup, denied reports that he was applying delay tactics at the tribunal to thwart its proceedings, insisting that he won the April 2007 governorship election in the state.

According to him, his petitioners spent six months to present their case at the tribunal while he had only spent 48 hours defending himself at the same tribunal, adding that if he wanted to employ delay tactics, he would spend another six months to defend himself.

He said that it was obvious to the opposition that he would win at the election tribunal, maintaining that he was ready to defend himself and that he would not exceed the allotted time given him.

“It is not correct that I am wasting time at the tribunal. I do not know what some people want in this country? I was in the court personally on Friday but it was not reported in any of the media. The opposition used six months to defend themselves and we just started to put our case forward on Thursday. Just two days and they are crying that we are wasting time,” he said.

“We asked for only 48 hours to bring our witnesses and they spent six months to put their case forward. If we want to waste time, we can equally say we want to spend six months. Are they being fair to us?”, he queried.

Exuding confidence, the governor assured that he would win against his opponents at the tribunal.