The long-drawn legal battle over the mandate of Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has finally been laid to rest as the Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed his victory in the last governorship election.
The apex court’s 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, challenging the governor’s landslide victory across all 18 local government areas. However, the Tribunal dismissed the case for lack of merit, upholding Aiyedatiwa’s election.
Not satisfied, the opposition proceeded to the Court of Appeal, where their petition was again thrown out, reinforcing the legitimacy of the governor’s mandate. The final stop was the Supreme Court, which has now delivered a unanimous judgment, putting a seal of finality on the matter.
Reacting to the judgment, Allen Sowore, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategic Communication, described the verdict as “a resounding victory for democracy, the people’s will, and the rule of law.”
According to Sowore, “This journey from the Tribunal, through the Appeal Court, to the Supreme Court, has only reinforced what the people of Ondo State freely expressed at the ballot. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory was never in doubt, and the judiciary has once again proven itself as the last hope of the common man.”
He added that the governor remains focused on delivering on his campaign promises, urging the opposition to join hands with the government in building a greater Ondo State.
“The distractions are now over. It is time to consolidate on good governance and drive development across all sectors,” Sowore affirmed.
With this landmark judgment, Governor Aiyedatiwa is now firmly positioned to continue his mandate without further legal encumbrances, as the curtain falls on the post-election litigations.
