Aiyedatiwa stays Ondo Gov as Supreme Court dismisses PDP’s appeal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a decisive blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, affirming Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Ondo State.

In a judgment that rippled through the state’s political landscape, Justice Garba Lawal declared that the appeal challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory was without merit and lacked legal standing. The ruling closed the curtain on a contentious legal battle that had gripped the state since the November 2024 election.

At the heart of the dispute were allegations of discrepancies surrounding the name change of Aiyedatiwa’s running mate, Olayide Adelami. Ajayi and the PDP argued that Adelami had changed his middle name from “Jackson” to “Owolabi” without proper documentation, casting doubts on his eligibility.

But the Supreme Court was unyielding. Justice Lawal dismissed the claims, affirming the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which had ruled in favor of Aiyedatiwa and the APC.

READ ALSO: APC sweeps Ondo local council election

The court’s verdict rested heavily on procedural grounds. It pointed out that the case was filed on June 7, 2024, well past the 14-day window mandated by law for electoral disputes. The cause of action, the court noted, arose on May 20, 2024, when the nomination forms were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Moreover, the court ruled that Ajayi lacked the locus standi, the legal right. to challenge the qualifications of Adelami, emphasizing that name changes, when properly documented, do not constitute electoral fraud.

As the judgment was read, reactions poured in from across Ondo State. Supporters of Aiyedatiwa celebrated what they called a victory for democracy and the rule of law, while Ajayi’s camp expressed disappointment but pledged to respect the court’s decision.

The Supreme Court’s dismissal came with consequences: Ajayi was ordered to pay ₦2 million in costs to each of the four respondents, including Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, the APC, and INEC.

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