The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has upheld the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, affirming the legitimacy of his victory in the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday, marks another legal win for the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC), following earlier affirmation by the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
In its ruling, the three-member appellate panel — consisting of Justices Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani — unanimously dismissed all appeals filed by opposition parties challenging Aiyedatiwa’s election.
The appeals had been lodged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The panel ruled that the appellants failed to provide compelling evidence to support claims of irregularities, electoral malpractice, or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The justices held that the appeals lacked merit, as the allegations made by the petitioners — including over-voting, electoral fraud, and irregularities in multiple polling units, wards, and local government areas — could not be substantiated.
According to the court, the petitioners were unable to present credible witnesses or documentary proof to validate their claims during tribunal proceedings. The panel described the arguments put forward as speculative and unfounded.
Furthermore, the court found no procedural lapses in the way the Election Petition Tribunal had earlier handled the case. The tribunal had, on June 4, 2025, upheld Governor Aiyedatiwa’s election, asserting that the petitioners failed to prove any significant breaches that could warrant overturning the election results.
As part of its ruling, the Court of Appeal imposed a fine of N1.5 million on the appellants, a clear indication of the court’s stance on what it termed frivolous litigation aimed at destabilizing a legitimately conducted election.
In his reaction to the ruling, Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the judgment with gratitude and described it as a triumph for democracy and the will of the people. He expressed appreciation to the justices for what he called a meticulous and fair judgment, which reaffirmed the collective decision of the Ondo State electorate.
“I give glory to Almighty God who has guided this process from the beginning,” Aiyedatiwa said. “On November 16, 2024, over 366,000 citizens of Ondo State entrusted us with the responsibility to continue leading as the seventh democratically elected governor.
That mandate was upheld by the tribunal, and now again by the Appeal Court. Some political actors attempted to overturn the people’s verdict through judicial manipulation, but the courts have rightly defended the sanctity of the electoral process.”
The governor extended his appreciation to his deputy, Mr. Olaide Adelami; his legal team; APC leaders and members across the state; and, notably, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for fostering an environment of fairness and impartiality during the election.
With this judgment, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s mandate is further solidified, paving the way for him to continue his administration’s agenda in Ondo State with renewed legitimacy and confidence.
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