Appeal Court Affirms Aiyedatiwa As Ondo Governor
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Thursday affirmed the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Olayide Adelami as the duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
The appellate court unanimously dismissed the appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the June 4, 2025 judgment of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which had upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
The panel of justices—Justice Nimpar Yargata, Justice K.I. Amadi, and Justice I.M. Sani—struck out all the appeals one after another, ruling that the appellants failed to provide substantial evidence of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The court held that the parties could not show how the alleged irregularities affected the outcome of the election in the various polling units, wards, and local government areas where voting occurred.
It also noted that the appellants failed to present credible witnesses during the tribunal proceedings to substantiate their claims of widespread malpractice.
Affirming the tribunal’s earlier judgment, the Appeal Court upheld the election of Aiyedatiwa and Adelami and awarded costs of ₦1.5 million against the appellants.
Reacting to the ruling, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the verdict as a welcome development and praised the appellate court justices for their thorough review and detailed judgment.
“I give glory to Almighty God who orchestrated this journey from the beginning and used the good people of Ondo State. Over 366,000 residents gave us their mandate on November 16 last year to continue governing this state as the seventh democratically elected governor,” Aiyedatiwa said.
“That mandate was validated by the tribunal and has now been reaffirmed by the Appeal Court. While some political parties tried to overturn the people’s decision through the backdoor, 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.”
The governor also extended appreciation to his deputy, legal team, APC leaders, and party members for their steadfast support throughout the legal challenge.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
