Ondo: Supreme Court Dismisses Ajayi’s Appeal As Ex-Dep Gov Withdraws Suit
Former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has withdrawn his lawsuit at the Supreme Court against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a letter addressed to the chief registrar of the apex court, Mr Ajayi said, “As the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, I have engaged in thoughtful discussions with my family, party members, associates, and legal advisors. After careful deliberation, we have reached a consensus that the appeal should be withdrawn, and I’m by this letter, so do.
“Having served as the former deputy governor and as a representative of my constituents at the national level, my foremost commitment is to the principles of good governance and the promotion of peaceful coexistence in Ondo State and across Nigeria.
“In this spirit, I extend my heartfelt wishes to His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as he leads our state, and I remain dedicated to contributing positively to the State and National development.”
Mr Ajayi, a former deputy governor, pledged his support for Mr Aiyedatiwa’s leadership.
Previously, the Akure Division of the Appeal Court had dismissed a suit filed by Mr Ajayi, which challenged Mr Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 16, 2024, election.
The PDP candidate had also sought to nullify the election of Deputy Governor Olayide Owolabi Adelami, alleging discrepancies in his name change, while also challenging the legitimacy of Mr Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress.
However, the court ruled that the appellants lacked the necessary legal standing (locus standi) to pursue the case, rendering the appeal unsustainable. It also ruled that the case was “statute-barred,” affirming the decisions of the Election Petition Tribunal and rejecting Mr Ajayi’s claims.
The court noted that the cause of action arose on May 20, 2024, when the nomination forms were submitted to INEC, whereas the suit was filed at the Federal High Court on June 7, 2024, which exceeded the 14-day limit prescribed by law.
As a result, the court dismissed the case and ordered Mr Ajayi to pay N2 million in costs to each of the four respondents.
He had also claimed that Mr Adelami, who previously used “Jackson” as his middle name in secondary school, had changed it to “Owolabi” without proper documentation.
The Supreme Court thereafter dismissed Mr. Ajayi’s case.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
