The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, challenging the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Garba Lawal, the apex court ruled that the appeal was “baseless, frivolous, and lacking in merit,” and consequently upheld the decisions of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Ajayi had sought to nullify Aiyedatiwa’s victory, alleging that the deputy governor, Owolabi Adelami, was ineligible due to accusations 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, reinforcing Aiyedatiwa’s legitimacy as governor.
Ajayi filed the legal challenge on June 7, 2024, claiming that Adelami’s eligibility was compromised due to the alleged falsification of documents. During the initial proceedings, the defendants, including Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, the APC, and INEC, argued that Ajayi lacked standing to file the suit and that the case had exceeded the constitutionally mandated 14-day window for such challenges.
On December 2, 2024, the Federal High Court dismissed the case, stating that the allegations of forgery required substantial evidence that could not be presented through an originating summons. The court also ruled that the petition was “statute-barred” as it was filed after the legal deadline.
The Court of Appeal upheld this ruling on January 18, 2025, and imposed a fine of ₦500,000 on Ajayi.
With the Supreme Court’s final verdict, the legal dispute over the Ondo State governorship election has now been resolved, affirming Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
