ONDO POLL: SUPREME COURT DISMISSES AJAYI, OTHERS’ APPEALS, AFFIRMS AIYEDATIWA’S VICTORY
Read Time:1 Minute, 41 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State.
The dismissal followed the withdrawal of the case by Ajayi, who, through his counsel, said the decision was reached after due consultation with members of the PDP. He also extended his best wishes to Governor Aiyedatiwa and pledged to continue working for the development of Ondo State.
The five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, also dismissed the appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Bamidele Akingboye, and his Allied Peoples Movement (APM) counterpart, Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.
Counsel for Akingboye and the SDP informed the court of the intention to withdraw their appeal due to the death of the appellant, while counsel for the respondents did not object.
READ MORE:
CBN ORDERS BANKS TO SECURE APPROVAL FOR MD/CEOS’ SUCCESSORS SIX MONTHS BEFORE EXIT
The opposition parties had earlier approached both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Akure, challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the November 16, 2024 governorship election, securing 366,781 votes across 18 local government areas. He defeated his closest rival, Ajayi of the PDP.
Court of Appeal Victory
In July, the Court of Appeal affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s election, upholding earlier tribunal rulings that dismissed petitions by Ajayi and other opposition parties, including the SDP, ADC, APM, and AA, for lack of merit.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Benson Ogubu, had in June rejected Ajayi’s allegations of widespread irregularities and affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s mandate.
Earlier, on March 11, 2025, the Supreme Court had also struck out a separate appeal by Ajayi challenging Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, ruling that the case was filed out of time and that Ajayi, not being a member of the APC, lacked the legal standing to question the party’s internal affairs.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0