The governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has welcomed Tuesday’s Supreme Court verdict upholding his election, using the occasion to appeal to opponents bent on removing him to “sheath swords”.

The Supreme Court dismissed a suit by the All Progressives Congress, challenging Mr. Fayose’s election in 2014, saying it lacked merit.

Mr. Fayose is also facing an impeachment threat from APC state lawmakers, who accuse the governor of gross misconduct.

Departing from his usual combative rhetoric, Mr. Fayose apparently appealed to the lawmakers to give peace chance and support his government.

“To my opponents, I plead with you to sheath your sword and join me in the development of Ekiti State. If truly our struggle is about service to our dear State, it is time to come together and channel all our resources towards the development of the State,” the governor said.

“I am irrevocably committed to the protection of all, including the opposition in the State. Nobody is infallible, and I am not a perfect being. The only one that is perfect is God, but He, in His infinite mercies has made me the Governor of Ekiti State today.

“I have a term and tenure; there will be another opportunity for Ekiti people to decide who governs them. Rather than trouble the peace of the State, our friends in the opposition parties should accept the will of God concerning our dear State and wait till 2018,” Mr. Fayose said.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated Mr. Fayose, over the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the ruling “is a testimony that the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man having sustained the wishes and aspirations of the people of Ekiti state as expressed in the June 21, 2014 governorship election.”

PDP said it regrets that the ruling came when “key institutions of democracy such as INEC and some security personnel, have already started compromising their independence apparently under the dictates of an obsessive APC”.

“Mr. Fayose displayed doggedness and triumphed in the face of daunting challenges from anti-democratic forces and urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory while using his mandate to deliver good governance in line with the PDP manifesto and vision of the founding fathers,” the party said.

While restating its resolve that it would stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Mr. Fayose, the PDP warned the outgoing All Progressives Congress lawmakers of Ekiti State House of Assembly against “any action directly or indirectly” intended to “undermine democratically elected PDP government under Governor Ayo Fayose”.