Supreme Court To Deliver Judgment On Agboola Ajayi’s Case Seeking To Annul Aiyedatiwa’s Victory
The Supreme Court will today deliver judgment in the appeal filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Agboola Ajayi, seeking to nullify the victory of Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
The apex court’s decision follows the dismissal of Ajayi’s case by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which upheld Aiyedatiwa’s win on procedural grounds.
Ajayi’s suit, initially filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 7, 2024, challenged the eligibility of Aiyedatiwa’s deputy, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, alleging forgery, impersonation, and false identity.
However, the case was transferred to the Akure division, where defendants — including Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and INEC — argued that Ajayi lacked locus standi (legal standing) as a non-APC member and that the suit was filed outside the 14-day constitutional window after the deputy governor’s nomination documents were submitted to INEC on May 20, 2024.
On December 2, 2024, Justice T.B. Adegoke of the Federal High Court dismissed the case, citing procedural flaws. The court emphasized that criminal allegations like forgery required proof via a writ of summons, not an originating summons, to allow witness testimony and evidence. It also ruled the petition “statute-barred” for missing the 14-day filing deadline. The Court of Appeal, Akure Division, unanimously upheld this decision on January 18, 2025, imposing a ₦500,000 cost against Ajayi.
During the February 25, 2025 Supreme Court hearing, senior lawyers clashed over technicalities. Ajayi’s legal team, led by Ahmed Raji, SAN, contended the appellate courts erred in their rulings, while Governor Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and others urged the court to affirm the lower courts’ findings.
The five-member panel, after reserving judgment, will now decide whether to overturn Aiyedatiwa’s decisive victory, which saw him secure 366,781 votes against Ajayi’s 117,845, winning all 18 local government areas.
Today’s judgment, expected by 2 PM, will conclude a nearly nine-month legal saga and determine the fate of Ondo State’s leadership.
