Appeal Court Upholds Aiyedatiwa’s Ondo Victory as ADC Heads to Supreme Court

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, reaffirmed the electoral victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, in the hotly contested November 16, 2024, governorship election. The ruling dismissed all appeals filed by opposition parties challenging the result, including a major petition by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate, Adeyemi Nejo.

The appellate court, led by Justices Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani, delivered a unanimous judgment that echoed the earlier verdict of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. The tribunal had, on June 4, 2025, dismissed all petitions for lack of merit and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Despite the ruling, ADC candidate Adeyemi Nejo rejected the decision and announced that the battle is far from over. In a press statement issued after the verdict, Nejo declared his intention to proceed to the Supreme Court, maintaining that the election was riddled with irregularities and substantial violations of the Electoral Act 2022.

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“The dismissal of the ADC’s appeal by the Court of Appeal is not the end of the road,” Nejo stated. “We will certainly explore our constitutional right of appeal to the Supreme Court in line with Section 233 (2)(e)(iv) of the Constitution. We repose high confidence in the Supreme Court to interrogate and do justice to our petition.”

Opposition Voices Discontent Over Court Decision

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election, having secured 366,781 votes to defeat candidates of several opposition parties. However, the results were immediately met with resistance, with parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and the ADC lodging petitions citing widespread electoral irregularities.

In response to Thursday’s ruling, the Director of Media and Publicity for the PDP in Ondo State, Leye Igbabo, stated that the party would review the judgment carefully before determining its next steps.

“We respect the judiciary, but we are equally committed to electoral integrity. We’ll study the full judgment and consult with our legal team before making any decision,” Igbabo said.

The Court of Appeal, in its ruling, emphasized that the petitioners had failed to provide credible evidence of malpractice. It criticized the lack of concrete proof linking alleged irregularities to the outcome of the election in specific polling units, wards, or local government areas. Additionally, the court observed that no credible witnesses were presented during the tribunal proceedings to substantiate the claims.

In what appears to be a warning to discourage frivolous petitions, the appellate court awarded ₦1.5 million in costs against the appellants.

Governor Aiyedatiwa Hails Verdict as Validation of People’s Mandate

Reacting to the court’s decision, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State for standing by him through the legal storm. He described the judgment as a triumph of democracy and a reaffirmation of the mandate given to him by the electorate.

“I give glory to Almighty God who orchestrated this journey from the beginning and used the good people of Ondo State,” Aiyedatiwa said. “Over 366,000 residents gave us their mandate on November 16 last year to continue governing this state as the seventh democratically elected governor.”

He further noted that while some political parties tried to challenge the results through the legal system, the judiciary had rightly upheld the will of the people.

“The tribunal validated that mandate, and the Appeal Court has now reaffirmed it. The judiciary has played its role by ensuring that the choice made by the people in all 18 local government areas stands firm.”

Supreme Court Showdown Looms

As the ADC prepares to take its case to the Supreme Court, political observers are watching closely to see how Nigeria’s apex court will handle the final stage of this electoral dispute. Legal experts anticipate that the case will set further precedents for how future electoral petitions are assessed, especially concerning the standard of evidence required.

For now, Aiyedatiwa continues in office with the backing of both the electorate and two tiers of the judiciary. But with the ADC and possibly other parties considering further action, the political and legal drama in Ondo State is far from over.