The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has delivered a decisive verdict affirming Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s electoral victory, dismissing all challenges brought forward by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four other opposition parties.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Benson Ogbu, delivered its unanimous judgment late Wednesday, declaring that the petitions lacked substance and failed to establish any credible grounds for overturning the results of the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
According to the tribunal, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aiyedatiwa, emerged victorious with a commanding 366,781 votes—an outcome the court deemed lawful and duly reflective of the electorate’s will.
Five political parties—the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and African Democratic Congress (ADC)—had jointly filed petitions, alleging widespread irregularities including over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). However, the tribunal found these accusations to be baseless.
“The petitioners failed woefully to present compelling evidence. Their allegations were heavy but unsupported, lacking the legal weight to persuade the court,” Justice Ogbu stated. “There can be no finding of non-compliance with electoral laws without clear, convincing proof—and none was provided.”
The panel made particular reference to the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, noting that despite making grave accusations, they could not substantiate their claims. “The tribunal cannot act on rhetoric. Evidence is key, and in this case, it was glaringly absent,” the ruling noted.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP, Olujimi Oluseye, expressed disappointment but maintained that the party would review the decision before determining whether to appeal. “We respect the court’s pronouncement, but we’re not satisfied. Our clients have the constitutional right to appeal, and we will study the judgment carefully before making any move,” he said.
In his response, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State for reaffirming his mandate. He described the judgment as a triumph for democracy and the rule of law.
“I am thankful to the Almighty and to the good people of Ondo who stood by us. The tribunal has confirmed what over 366,000 voters already declared—we won, fair and square,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He also extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging them to set aside political differences and join hands with his administration in developing the state. “This is a collective journey. From the onset, I’ve invited all stakeholders to contribute their ideas. The time for politics is over. Let us now build Ondo together,” he added.
With the tribunal’s verdict, Aiyedatiwa’s administration gains further legitimacy, while the opposition is left to decide its next course of action in the legal arena.
