Tension Over! Court Of Appeal Upholds Aiyedatiwa’s Mandate In Ondo Guber Race

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the legitimate winner of the Ondo governorship poll.

Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, emerged victorious in the November 16, 2024 election, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ajayi had earlier filed a petition at the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal challenging Aiyedatiwa’s win, but the case was dismissed.

Unwilling to accept the tribunal’s decision, Ajayi approached the Court of Appeal, claiming the mandate was rightfully his.

However, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, the appellate court rejected his appeal and affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s victory.

The three-member panel, led by Justice Yargata Nimpar, delivered a unanimous judgment, agreeing with the tribunal’s earlier decision that validated the APC candidate’s win.

Justice Nimpar declared that Ajayi’s appeal lacked merit and, therefore, stood dismissed.