The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State after Ajayi chose to withdraw the case.
Ajayi’s counsel informed the court of the withdrawal, explaining that the decision came after consultations with PDP stakeholders. Ajayi extended goodwill to Aiyedatiwa and reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Ondo State.
A five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro also struck out appeals by Bamidele Akingboye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ogunfeyimi Kolawole of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The SDP’s withdrawal followed the death of its candidate, with no objections raised by opposing counsel.
The opposition had earlier challenged Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Akure. However, both courts upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration that Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, won the November 2024 election with 366,781 votes across all 18 local government areas, defeating Ajayi and other rivals.
In July, the Court of Appeal affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s election, following an earlier ruling in June by the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissing several petitions alleging irregularities. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Benson Ogubu, rejected petitions from the PDP, SDP, ADC, APM, and AA, confirming Aiyedatiwa’s mandate.
Earlier in March 2025, the Supreme Court had already dismissed a separate appeal by Ajayi contesting Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, ruling that the matter was filed out of time and that Ajayi, as a non-member of the APC, lacked standing to challenge the party’s internal decisions.
What you should know
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s election has survived all legal challenges, with both the tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court affirming his victory.
His closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, has now conceded and pledged support for Ondo’s progress, sealing Aiyedatiwa’s mandate as undisputed.
