Following the withdrawal of the appeal filed by Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The court also dismissed the appeals filed by the governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bamidele Akingboye, and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.
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PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Ajayi withdrew his case against Mr Aiyedatiwa.
The PDP candidate, through his counsel, said he withdrew the case after due consultations with members of the PDP.
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The counsel for Mr Akingboye and the SDP similarly applied to withdraw the appeal due to the death of the appellant, even as counsel for the respondents did not object to the withdrawal
Governor Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, won in all the local government areas of the state in the 16 November, 2024 election, according to the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
He secured 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Ajayi of the PDP, who scored 117,000 votes.
The parties and their candidates first challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Akure, the state capital, but lost.
The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed Mr Ajayi’s appeal challenging the eligibility of the governor to contest the election.
The court ruled that the case was filed out of time and that Mr Ajayi, not being a member of the APC, lacked the legal standing to contest the internal affairs of the party, including the qualifications of Mr Aiyedatiwa’s running mate.
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo State has described its governorship election victory at the Supreme Court as the final endorsement of the people’s mandate.
Chairperson of the chapter, Ade Adetimehin, congratulated Mr Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, Olade Adelamin, party chieftains, and the people of the state on the victory.
The party further commended the roles of the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies while the case lasted.
