Court of Appeal dismisses petitions; affirms Aiyedatiwa’s victory in Ondo election
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has affirmed the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the duly elected governor of Ondo State, dismissing various appeals for lack of merit.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel struck out the appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Action Alliance (AA), challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 16, 2024, poll.
Justice Benson Ogbudu, who delivered the lead judgment, said the appellants failed to prove allegations of certificate forgery, over-voting, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The court held that the evidence presented by APM and SDP lacked probative value and was “based on speculation rather than concrete facts.”
The appellate court noted that AA had no locus standi, as the party did not field a candidate in the election. It further ruled that the petitioners abandoned their cases by failing to present credible witnesses to substantiate claims of widespread irregularities.
Consequently, the court affirmed the election of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, and awarded a cost of N1.5 million against the appellants.
Reacting to the judgment, Aiyedatiwa said, “I give glory to almighty God who orchestrated this journey from the beginning and used the good people of Ondo State… That mandate was validated by the tribunal and has now been reaffirmed by the appeal court.”
He added, “While some political parties tried to overturn the people’s decision through the back door, the judiciary has fulfilled its role by upholding the choice made by the majority of voters across the 18 local government areas of the state.”
