From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The Akure division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the election of the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami.

The court also dismissed an appeal challenging the validity of the APC primary that produced both Aiyedatiwa and Odunlami as APC candidate and running mate respectively.

The unanimous judgment which was delivered by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court which dismissed the suit filed by Mr Gbenga Edema, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on procedural grounds.

Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Federal High Court had ruled that the suit became incompetent after the NNPP withdrew from the case, leaving Edema without a proper legal standing.

Edema, through his counsel, Mr. Abayomi Ojo, had sought an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the nomination of Aiyedatiwa and Adelami, citing constitutional breaches in the APC primary election.

He urged the court to interpret Section 15 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Following the dismissal, Edema approached the appellate court seeking to overturn the decision.

However, all the respondents including INEC, APC, Aiyedatiwa, and Adelami urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that it lacked merit and constituted an abuse of court process.

The appellate court agreed, resolving all issues against Edema and awarded a cost of ₦1 million to each respondent.

Remi Olatubora, counsel to the deputy governor, welcomed the judgment, describing the suit as a waste of judicial resources.

“This is a case of an individual who contested under NNPP but is challenging the APC candidate’s victory. Our laws should not permit such cases. Justice has prevailed.”

Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, praised the judges’ diligence and emphasized that the court’s decision reaffirmed the people’s mandate. The people spoke clearly. This is not a time for endless litigation but a time to unite and move Ondo State forward.”