Supreme Court Upholds Aiyedatiwa’s Election as Ondo Governor After Withdrawal of All Appeals
A five‑member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Inyang Okoro, has affirmed the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Governor of Ondo State. This followed the withdrawal of all pending appeals challenging his victory in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the poll, having secured the majority of lawful votes cast. This declaration was subsequently upheld by both the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Dissatisfied with these concurrent findings, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the All Peoples Movement (APM) had approached the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the lower courts’ decisions.
However, at the hearing on Wednesday, counsel for the appellants informed the apex court of their respective notices of withdrawal. The withdrawals effectively terminated the appeals, which had sought to challenge the appellate court’s affirmation of the tribunal’s judgment.
In the case of the PDP, its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, disclosed that he had been instructed to discontinue the matter, prompting the filing of a formal notice of withdrawal on September 16.
For the SDP, counsel Adewole Adebayo explained that the party’s candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, had passed away on August 13, necessitating the withdrawal of the appeal. Adebayo, also appearing for the APM and its candidate, Ogunfeyimi Kolawole, similarly withdrew their appeal.
Respondent counsel did not oppose the withdrawals but expressed displeasure at what they described as frivolous and time‑wasting litigation. Representing the respondents were Charles Uwensuyi‑Edosomwan, SAN (for INEC), Ebun‑Olu Adegboruwa, SAN (for Aiyedatiwa), Hakeem Afolabi, SAN (for Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami), and Olusola Oke, SAN (for the APC).
In his ruling, Justice Okoro criticised the appellants for initiating matters already settled in law. He noted, in particular, that the APM had called only one witness at the tribunal to challenge results from 18 Local Government Areas and over 3,000 polling units, a move he described as grossly inadequate.
The Justice further remarked that, but for the PDP’s voluntary withdrawal and the demise of the SDP candidate, the court would have imposed sanctions on the appellants and their counsel for abuse of judicial process. He dismissed the appeals and cautioned legal practitioners against filing such unmeritorious cases in the future.
