Supreme Court upholds Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s election as Ondo Governor

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the duly elected governor of Ondo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Lawal Garba, solidifies Aiyedatiwa’s mandate and brings an end to the legal contest surrounding the November 16, 2024, governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa, who previously served as deputy governor, assumed office as governor following the passing of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in 2023.

He officially commenced his first full four-year term after securing a decisive victory in the governorship election, where he emerged victorious in all 18 local government areas of Ondo State.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Aiyedatiwa polled over 366,000 votes, significantly surpassing his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who secured 117,000 votes.

Despite his loss at the polls, Ajayi pursued legal action, challenging Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy on grounds of alleged forgery, perjury, and impersonation. The case was initially heard at the Federal High Court, which ruled against Ajayi, stating that the suit lacked merit.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Ajayi escalated the case to the Court of Appeal, which also upheld the lower court’s decision, citing procedural lapses in the manner the case was initiated.

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Delivering the final judgment on Tuesday, Justice Garba stated that the Supreme Court could not interfere in the internal affairs of a political party regarding the selection of its candidate.

The court further ruled that Ajayi lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the nomination of another party’s flagbearer.

Additionally, the court pointed out that Ajayi’s case was filed beyond the constitutionally mandated 14-day window for election-related disputes, rendering it invalid. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of N2 million against Agboola Ajayi.

Aiyedatiwa officially took the oath of office at approximately 12:59 p.m., just after his deputy, Olayide Adelami, was sworn in two weeks ago. The oath was administered by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice A. O. Odusola, officially sealing Aiyedatiwa’s position as the state’s executive leader.

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In his inaugural address, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their trust and reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises.

He outlined his administration’s focus areas, including infrastructural development, economic growth, job creation, and security enhancement.

His victory on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) further cements the party’s dominance in Ondo State.

Shortly after assuming office, Aiyedatiwa moved to reposition his administration by dissolving the State Executive Council on January 24, 2024. This decision followed internal divisions within the cabinet, stemming from a feud between Aiyedatiwa and the late Governor Akeredolu before the latter’s demise.

With the Supreme Court verdict now settled, Aiyedatiwa is set to focus on governance without further legal distractions.

His administration’s ability to deliver on key campaign promises will be closely watched by the people of Ondo State, as he seeks to chart a new course for the state’s development.