Appeal Court affirms Aiyedatiwa’s election as Ondo governor
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Thursday, July 31, 2025, affirmed the election of Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and Dr. Olayide Adelami as the duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
The appellate court upheld the June 4 ruling of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which validated the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the November 16, 2024, governorship poll.
Appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were all dismissed for lack of merit. The parties had sought the nullification of the election on grounds of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
A three-member panel of justices — Justice Nimpar Yargata, Justice K.I. Amadi, and Justice I.M. Sani — unanimously struck out the appeals, ruling that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims.
The court held that the petitioners did not show how the alleged irregularities affected polling units, wards, or local government areas, and failed to call credible witnesses before the tribunal to substantiate their cases.
Accordingly, the Appeal Court affirmed the Tribunal’s decisions and upheld the elections of Dr. Aiyedatiwa and Dr. Adelami, awarding a cost of N1.5 million against each of the appellants.
Reacting to the judgment, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the ruling as a “welcome development” and praised the justices for their diligence and thoroughness in delivering unanimous verdicts.
He expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State, stating that the outcome reaffirmed the mandate given to him by over 366,000 voters across the state in November 2024.
The governor also thanked his deputy, legal team, APC leaders, and supporters for standing by him throughout the legal process.
