The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the election of
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, bringing to an end a series of legal
battles over the November 16, 2024 governorship poll.
A five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro
dismissed the appeals filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi, through his counsel,
informed the court that he was withdrawing his case after due consultation with
party members. He extended best wishes to Governor Aiyedatiwa and pledged to
continue working for the development of Ondo State.
The appeal filed by SDP candidate Bamidele Akingboye
was also withdrawn following his death, while that of APM’s Ogunfeyimi Kolawole
was struck out after counsel expressed no objection to the withdrawal.
The opposition parties had earlier approached the
tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Akure to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s election.
However, both courts upheld his victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
had declared Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
winner of the election with 366,781 votes across 18 local government areas,
defeating Ajayi of the PDP and other opponents.
In July, the Court of Appeal affirmed the governor’s
mandate after dismissing multiple petitions. Similarly, the Ondo State
Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, chaired by Justice Benson Ogubu,
struck out petitions from the PDP, SDP, ADC, APM, and AA in June.
The Supreme Court had earlier, in March, dismissed a
separate case by Ajayi challenging Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, ruling that he
lacked the legal standing to contest APC’s internal affairs.
With Thursday’s ruling, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s election
stands fully affirmed.
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