Appeal court upholds Aiyedatiwa’s victory as Ondo gov
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, upheld Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 16, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The ruling was announced by a panel led by Justice Nimpar Yargata, addressing an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidat,e Hon. Agboola Ajayi, in addition to other opposition parties challenging the election results.
The Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had earlier affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s election on June 4, 2025. Following the tribunal’s decision, the PDP, along with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and the Social Development Party (SDP), sought to contest the ruling, demanding that the election results be annulled.
However, the appellate court unanimously struck down the appeals, stating that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The justices—Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani—found that the claims presented lacked substantiation regarding their impact on the polling process across various units, wards, and local governments.
Moreover, the panel highlighted that the opposition parties did not call credible witnesses to support allegations of widespread electoral irregularities, leading them to affirm the tribunal’s decisions. This ruling officially recognized Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, as the duly elected officials, with the appellants ordered to pay N1.5 million in costs.
Governor Aiyedatiwa reacted positively to the judgment, describing it as a validation of the people’s mandate. He praised the justices for their comprehensive examination of the cases and their careful delivery of the unanimous decision.
In his statement, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude, saying, “I give glory to Almighty God who orchestrated this journey from the beginning and used the good people of Ondo State. Over 366,000 residents gave us their mandate to continue governing this state. This mandate was validated by the tribunal and has now been reaffirmed by the Appeal Court. The judiciary has upheld the choice made by the majority of voters across the state.”
Source: LEADERSHIP
