Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has criticized a Federal High Court ruling in Akure that bars him from seeking another term, calling it too early and a distraction from running the state.
The court, led by Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke, held that the 1999 Constitution limits governors to a maximum of eight years in office.
The suit was filed by Kin Egbuwalo, an APC member, asking the court to interpret Section 137(3) of the Constitution in relation to Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election.
The court agreed with the plaintiff and issued an order restraining the governor from contesting again.
Defendants in the case included Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Olayide Adelami, the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Aiyedatiwa said discussions about the 2028 off-cycle governorship election were unnecessary.
He noted that he had only recently won a fresh mandate in November 2024 and remains focused on governing.
The governor said he has not considered how the constitutional eight-year limit might apply to him, as his attention is on implementing the policies and projects promised to voters.
He said: “This is too early. Why don’t you wait till 2027 or when the off-cycle timetable will be out in early 2028? Maybe at that time, I might begin to think, wait a minute, do I have the right to contest or not? At that time, one can begin to seek interpretation of some of these clauses in the constitution.
“I went into a free and fair, conclusive election, which I won on the 16th of November 2024, so it is still fresh. I have never thought about any other election other than delivering on the mandate that has been given to me.
“Future elections were not in my mind at all because you have to go step by step, stage by stage.
“I know the constitutional provision of eight years, but I have not even gone into that because I just won an election. All I was occupied with was to govern and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people until somebody woke up and began to challenge it.
“You ask how I feel. I feel the same way. This distraction will be put to rest because it is a whole lot of distraction for me, having gone through election and survived impeachment.
“The party remains dominant in Ondo State, and politics is ultimately a game of numbers. I am not chasing anyone away from the party.
