The Supreme Court has dismissed multiple appeals challenging the election of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, following the withdrawal of suits by opposition candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, officially withdrew his appeal against Aiyedatiwa’s election.
His legal counsel informed the court that the decision followed consultations with key members of the party.
Ajayi also issued a statement extending his best wishes to Governor Aiyedatiwa and reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Ondo State.
Similarly, the Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, dismissed appeals filed by Bamidele Akingboye of the SDP and Ogunfeyimi Kolawole of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The SDP’s counsel explained that their appeal was being withdrawn due to the death of the appellant, Akingboye. Lawyers representing the respondents did not object to the withdrawals.
These developments effectively end legal challenges by major opposition parties seeking to overturn Aiyedatiwa’s electoral victory.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner of the November 16, 2024 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He secured 366,781 votes and won in all 18 local government areas of the state, defeating his closest rival, Ajayi of the PDP.
Aiyedatiwa’s victory had already been upheld by both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
On June 4, 2025, the Ondo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, chaired by Justice Benson Ogubu, dismissed several petitions, including one from Ajayi, alleging electoral irregularities.
Petitions from the SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), APM, and African Alliance (AA) were also struck out, affirming Aiyedatiwa’s win.
Prior to that, on March 11, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a separate suit filed by Ajayi challenging the validity of Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy.
The court ruled that Ajayi lacked the legal standing to intervene in APC’s internal affairs, noting that he was not a member of the party and had filed the case out of time.
