Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a major legal victory as the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure upheld his election, dismissing challenges from five opposition parties.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Imelda Etiape, with Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Benson Ogubu concurring, the Tribunal ruled that the petitions lacked merit and failed to prove any case of over-voting or irregularities.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, along with the Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Democratic Congress (ADC), were all unsuccessful in their attempts to overturn Aiyedatiwa’s mandate.
The panel criticized the quality of evidence presented by the petitioners, describing it as weak and unsupported by credible documentation. It affirmed that Aiyedatiwa received the highest number of valid votes and that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the law.
The ruling is considered a significant boost for the APC as political activities intensify in Ondo State. Analysts believe the outcome may not only strengthen Aiyedatiwa’s position within the party but also demoralize opposition in the state.
