Ondo Guber: Tribunal Affirms Aiyedatiwa’s Election Victory
The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, dismissing petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and four other parties.
The tribunal delivered its judgment on Wednesday evening, confirming that Aiyedatiwa secured the November 16, 2024, poll with 366,781 votes.
Parties that challenged the outcome included the PDP, Social Democratic Party, Action Alliance, Allied Peoples’ Movement, and African Democratic Congress.
They alleged irregularities such as over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
However, the three-man panel led by Justice Benson Ogbu ruled unanimously that the petitions lacked merit.
“The petitioners failed to provide enough evidence. Their claims were weak, lacked seriousness, and could not stand in court,” the panel said.
Specifically, the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, were said to have failed to prove their case convincingly.
“There is no way the tribunal can confirm non-compliance with the law when no clear proof was shown,” the judges stated, adding that Ajayi “failed woefully” to show that the alleged irregularities affected the outcome of the election.
Reacting to the ruling, PDP counsel Olujimi Oluseye said the party would review the judgment before deciding on an appeal.
“We respect the court, but we’re not satisfied. Our clients have a right to challenge this. We’ll get a copy of the judgment and review it,” he said.
In his response, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State.
“I give thanks to God and to the people of Ondo. About 366,000 voters gave us the mandate, and now the tribunal has confirmed it,” he said.
He urged his opponents to join hands with his administration in developing the state.
“We are ready to work with everyone. From the day I was declared winner, I invited others to bring their ideas so we can build Ondo together,” he added.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
