The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has affirmed the election of His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as the duly elected Governor of Ondo State, bringing an end to months of legal disputes over the November 2024 governorship election.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, the appellate court dismissed appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Action Alliance (AA), all of whom had sought to upturn the victory of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami.
The appellants had approached the Court of Appeal after the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed their petitions for lack of merit. They alleged widespread irregularities and violations of the Electoral Act during the November 16, 2024 poll.
However, the panel of Justices—comprising Justices Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani—dismissed the appeals one after the other, stating that none of the petitioners succeeded in presenting credible evidence to support their claims.
According to the judgement, the appellants failed to prove how the purported irregularities affected the outcome of the election in specific polling units, wards, or local government areas. The court also noted that many of the witnesses presented during the tribunal proceedings lacked credibility and failed to substantiate the claims of electoral malpractice.
The Court of Appeal upheld the earlier verdict of the tribunal and declared Aiyedatiwa and Adelami as the legitimate winners of the election. It also imposed a cost of N1.5 million against the appellants.
Reacting to the judgement, Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the people of Ondo State. He expressed gratitude to the judiciary for upholding the will of the electorate.
The judgement is expected to solidify the mandate of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration, which has continued to emphasise development, stability, and good governance in the Sunshine State.
Get a premium automobile insurance coverage for your vehicle for as low as #15000 only and claim up to #3,000,000 in damages @Zenith Insurance To signup: WhatsApp/Call: +2349028313757
