The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal has upheld Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 2024 governorship election, dismissing petitions from the PDP and four other political parties
The Ondo election judgment has been delivered, with the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday evening upholding the election victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
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The tribunal dismissed all petitions challenging his win, including those filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four other political parties.
The three-man panel, led by Justice Benson Ogbu, confirmed that Governor Aiyedatiwa, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), legally secured his mandate in the November 16, 2024, governorship election, having amassed 366,781 votes.
The petitions challenging the result were brought by the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Their claims centred on alleged irregularities such as over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and the failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
However, in a unanimous ruling, the tribunal declared that the petitioners had failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate their claims.
“The petitioners failed to provide enough evidence. Their claims were weak, lacked seriousness, and could not stand in court,” Justice Ogbu stated.
Specifically, the court ruled that the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, could not prove their case, despite making serious allegations.
The panel noted that no clear proof was shown to confirm non-compliance with the law, and that Ajayi “failed woefully” to demonstrate how any alleged electoral irregularities affected the outcome of the election.
Reacting to the judgment, PDP’s lawyer, Olujimi Oluseye, indicated that the party would meticulously study the ruling before deciding on a potential appeal.
“We respect the court, but we’re not satisfied. Our clients have a right to challenge this. We’ll get a copy of the judgment and review it,” he commented.
In his own reaction, a triumphant Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State.
He seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch to opposition members, urging them to join his administration in building the state.
“I give thanks to God and to the people of Ondo. About 366,000 voters gave us the mandate, and now the tribunal has confirmed it,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
He added, “Some thought they could steal the victory through the back door, but the court has proved otherwise.”
The Governor reiterated his call for unity, emphasising his readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders.
“We are ready to work with everyone. From the day I was declared winner, I invited others to bring their ideas so we can build Ondo together,” he concluded.
