The Court of Appeal in Akure has ruled in favour of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, confirming their win in the Ondo State governorship election held on November 16, 2024.
The case was brought before the court by Gbenga Edema, the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who wanted the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election that produced the two leaders to be cancelled.
Edema had earlier lost the case at the Federal High Court, but he moved to the appellate court hoping to reverse the judgment.
However, the Appeal Court rejected his appeal, saying the process had legal faults and that he had no proper grounds to continue the case after the NNPP pulled out of it.
The judges ruled that his arguments had no value and were not enough to change the outcome of the election.
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Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the panel, said the earlier dismissal of the case by the lower court was correct.
Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke had also ruled at the High Court that Edema had no valid position in the case once his party withdrew.
As a result of the Appeal Court’s decision, Edema was ordered to pay ₦1 million each to the three respondents — Governor Aiyedatiwa, Deputy Governor Adelami, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The judgment marks another legal win for the APC and brings an end to yet another challenge to Aiyedatiwa’s mandate.
