Ex-deputy gov loses as Supreme Court affirms Aiyedatiwa Ondo governor

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, challenging the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Ondo State governor.

In the judgement delivered by Justice Garba Lawal on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the Supreme Court threw out the appeal for being baseless, frivolous, and lacking in merit.

The apex court, therefore, upheld the concurrent judgements of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal on the disputed qualifications matter.

Ajayi, a former deputy governor of Ondo State, had sought to nullify Aiyedatiwa’s victory, accusing the governor’s deputy, Owolabi Adelami, of forgery, impersonation, and using a false identity.

However, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed Ajayi’s case on procedural grounds and upholded Aiyedatiwa’s win.

Ajayi’s legal challenge, filed on June 7, 2024, claimed that Adelami’s eligibility was compromised due to the alleged falsification of documents.

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In the initial proceedings, the defendants, including Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, the APC, and INEC, argued that Ajayi lacked the legal standing to bring the suit and that the filing exceeded the 14-day window for such cases.

On December 2, 2024, the Federal High Court dismissed Ajayi’s case, ruling that the criminal accusations of forgery required more substantial evidence, which could not be presented through an originating summons.

The court also deemed the petition “statute-barred” as it was filed after the constitutionally mandated deadline.

This decision was unanimously upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 18, 2025, with a N500,000 fine imposed on Ajayi.

The latest apex court verdict has put to rest the long drawn legal battle over the Ondo State governorship election.

The Star