The Supreme Court rejected the petition that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for governor, Agboola Ajayi, filed contesting Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to run in the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday due to its lack of substance, frivolity, and lack of foundation.
Justice Garba Lawal’s lead ruling dismissed the case, upholding the concurrent rulings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal regarding the contested credentials.
By accusing Olayide Owolabi Adelami, the governor’s deputy, of forgery, impersonation, and using a fictitious name, Ajayi attempted to void Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
However, Aiyedatiwa’s victory was upheld when the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal both rejected Ajayi’s case on procedural grounds.
According to Ajayi’s June 7, 2024, judicial challenge, Adelami’s eligibility was jeopardized because of alleged document fraud.
Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, the APC, and INEC were among the defendants who contended in the initial proceedings that Ajayi lacked the legal capacity to file the lawsuit and that the filing was made after the 14-day timeframe for such lawsuits.
The Federal High Court dismissed Ajayi’s case on December 2, 2024, stating that more substantial evidence was needed to support the criminal charges of forgery, and that proof could not be provided through an initial summons.
Additionally, the court considered the petition “statute-barred” as it was filed after the constitutionally mandated deadline.
On January 18, 2025, the Court of Appeal unanimously supported this ruling, and Ajayi was fined N500,000.
The protracted legal dispute over the Ondo State governorship election has been resolved by the most recent ruling from the highest court.
