The legal battle over the Ondo State governorship election has finally been laid to rest as the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed the election of Governor Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
This landmark judgment marks the end of a series of litigations that began shortly after the polls. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and his party had approached the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge Governor Aiyedatiwa’s landslide victory across all 18 local government areas. The Tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of merit, upholding the will of the people.
Dissatisfied, the opposition proceeded to the Court of Appeal, where the judgment again validated the governor’s mandate. The final stop at the Supreme Court has now sealed the legitimacy of the election, putting an end to the legal tussle.
Reacting to the verdict, Coordinator of HAMVOLUNTEERS, Hon. Niyi Adeyosoye, described the ruling as “a victory for democracy, the will of the people, and the supremacy of the rule of law.”
Similarly, Legislative Aide 1 to Hon. Abiola Makinde, the serving Member of the House of Representatives for Ondo East and West Federal Constituency, said:
“This journey from the Tribunal, through the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court, has only reinforced what the people of Ondo State freely expressed at the polls. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory was free, fair, and credible. Once again, the judiciary has proven itself as the last hope of the common man.”
Adeyosoye further noted that with the legal distractions over, the governor can now remain fully focused on delivering his campaign promises. He urged the opposition to put politics aside and work with the administration to build a greater Ondo State.
“The distractions are now over. It is time to consolidate on good governance and drive development across all sectors,” he affirmed.
With this resounding judgment, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is firmly positioned to continue his mandate without further legal hindrance, as the will of the people stands affirmed.
Coordinator,
HAMVOLUNTEERS