- Safiu Kehinde
A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ruled out the eligibility of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to contest for another term in office.
The court in the ruling delivered on Thursday by Justice Toyin Adegoke, held that permitting the governor to contest again would violate the constitutional limit on tenure.
According to reports, Justice Adegoke noted that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not permit an elected President, Vice President, Governor, or Deputy Governor to remain in office for more than eight years.
The court ruled that if Aiyedatiwa were allowed to contest and win another term, it would exceed the constitutional limit.
CitIng the Supreme Court’s decision in Marwa v. Nyako, Justice Adegoke reiterated that a President or Governor cannot serve beyond eight years in office.
“If the third defendant is allowed to contest and serve another four years, that will be against the position of the law as established in Marwa v. Nyako, where the Supreme Court held that a President or Governor cannot serve beyond eight years,” the judge said.
Recall that Aiyedatiwa first assumed office on December 27, 2024, following the death of former governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose tenure he completed.