Yusuf Ameh – Abuja
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, challenging the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as governor of Ondo state.
The dismissal of the appeals followed the withdrawal of Ajayi’s appeal.
Ajayi, through his counsel, said he withdrew the case after due consultation with members of the PDP.
He extended his best wishes to Governor Aiyedatiwa and pledged to continue to work for the development of Ondo.
The five-member panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Inyang Okoro also dismissed the appeals filed by the governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bamidele Akingboye, and his Allied Peoples Movement (APM) counterpart, Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.
Counsel for Akingboye and the SDP had informed the court of the intention to withdraw the appeal due to the death of the appellant.
Counsel for the respondents did not object to the withdrawal.
The opposition parties had earlier approached the tribunal and the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the state capital, to challenge the election of Aiyedatiwa.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while declaring Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the election, disclosed that he won in 18 local government areas of the state.
Aiyedatiwa, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ajayi of the PDP.
The Court of Appeal had, in July affirmed the election of Aiyedatiwa in the November 16, 2024, governorship poll in the state.
On June 4, 2025, the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed multiple petitions challenging his election, including one filed by Ajayi, who alleged widespread irregularities.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Benson Ogubu, also struck out similar petitions from the SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and African Alliance (AA), affirming Aiyedatiwa’s mandate.
Before then, on March 11, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a separate appeal filed by Ajayi challenging Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy.
The apex court ruled that the case was filed out of time and that Ajayi, not being a member of the APC, lacked the legal standing to contest the internal affairs of the party, including the qualifications of Aiyedatiwa’s running mate.
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