- Safiu Kehinde
The Supreme Court has on Wednesday upheld the victory of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the state’s governorship election held on the 16th of November 2024.
Recall Aiyedatiwa who contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won the election with 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 117, 845 votes.
However, the PDP alongside the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Allied People’s Movement (APM) challenged Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.
This would lead to a prolonged legal battle as the tribunal affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
The opposition parties dragged the case to the Court Appeal which again upheld the outcome of the election.
Unsatisfied with the ruling the parties approached the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court’s decision.
Meanwhile, when the appeals were called before the five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice John Okoro, the three opposition parties withdrew their appeals.
The PDP and Ajayi’s legal counsel, Reuben Egwuaba told the court that his clients instructed him to withdraw the appeal, which he had on Tuesday notified the court about.
On their parts, the SDP’s legal counsel, Adewole Adebayo cited the demise of the party’s candidate, Bamidele Akingboye, who died on August 13, as the reason behind the withdraw of the party’s appeal.
Adebayo, who also represented the APM and Kolawole equally withdrew the appeal filed by them.
The Supreme Court thereby affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the poll.
Reacting to the development, the Ondo State APC hailed the apex court’s judgment.
The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Lex Kalejaye in Akure, described the verdict of the Supreme Court as the final endorsement of the people’s mandate.
Kalejaye noted that the Chairman of the party in the state, Engr Ade Adetimehin, congratulated Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, Mr Olayide Adelami and the people of the state on the victory.
He also commended the roles of the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies while the case lasted.
“We urge the three political parties to put the defeat behind them and support the efforts of the Governor Aiyedatiwa-led government to reconstruct various sectors, aimed at boosting the economy,” the statement concluded.