Sh*ck In Ondo! Appeal Court Upholds Aiyedatiwa’s Mandate – ADC Heads To Supreme Court

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday upheld the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, in the November 16, 2024, governorship election.

However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Adeyemi Nejo, has rejected the ruling and announced his intention to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.

In his statement, Nejo said, “The dismissal of our appeal by the Court of Appeal is not the final chapter. We will pursue our constitutional right to appeal at the Supreme Court, as guaranteed by Section 233 (2) (e) (iv) of the Constitution.”

He expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would fairly assess the merits of their petition, which he claimed highlighted electoral irregularities and violations of the Electoral Act 2022 that led to the declaration of Aiyedatiwa as winner.

Reacting to the judgment, the Director of Media and Publicity for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Leye Igbabo, said the party would thoroughly review the court’s decision before determining its next course of action.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2024 governorship poll with 366,781 votes.

Following the result, several political parties—including the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and ADC—challenged the outcome, citing widespread irregularities.

However, on June 4, 2025, the Ondo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed all petitions, citing non-compliance with legal standards. The dissatisfied parties proceeded to the appellate court.

Delivering its unanimous verdict, the three-man panel comprising Justices Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani threw out the appeals, ruling that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations. The court also noted that no compelling witnesses were presented and that the petitioners could not demonstrate how the alleged irregularities impacted the results across polling units and wards. A ₦1.5 million cost was awarded against the appellants.

In his reaction, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, calling it a victory for democracy.

“I thank God and the good people of Ondo State who entrusted me with their mandate. Over 366,000 citizens gave us their support on November 16, and this has now been affirmed by both the tribunal and the Appeal Court,” he said.

He added, “Despite attempts by some parties to overturn the people’s will through legal challenges, the judiciary has once again proven its role as the guardian of democracy.”