The Supreme Court has brought closure to the long-running governorship dispute in Ondo State, dismissing the appeal of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Agboola Ajayi.
Ajayi withdrew his petition after consultations with PDP members. He also sent goodwill to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pledging support for Ondo’s development.
“I wish Governor Aiyedatiwa well and will continue to work for the progress of our state,” his counsel told the court.
The five-member panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, also dismissed the petitions of Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Bamidele Akingboye and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.
Counsel for Akingboye withdrew the appeal after informing the court of the candidate’s death. None of the respondents objected to the withdrawals.
Aiyedatiwa’s Electoral Mandate
Governor Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the November 16, 2024, governorship election with 366,781 votes. He defeated Ajayi of the PDP across all 18 local government areas, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The opposition parties challenged the result at the tribunal and Court of Appeal in Akure. Both courts upheld Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
On June 4, 2025, the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed Ajayi’s petition, citing lack of merit. Justice Benson Ogubu also struck out cases from the SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and African Alliance (AA).
Previous Legal Battles
This is not the first time Ajayi’s case has failed at the Supreme Court. On March 11, 2025, the court dismissed his suit challenging Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy.
The justices ruled that the PDP candidate had no standing to contest APC internal affairs and filed out of time.
With today’s ruling, Aiyedatiwa’s position as governor is fully secured after months of litigation for the full four-year tenure.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles. You can also Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
