By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petitions filed by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) challenging the election of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, affirming his victory in the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election.
In a unanimous decision delivered in Akure, the capital, the three-member panel ruled that both petitions lacked merit and failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to warrant the nullification of the election.
The respondents in the petitions included Governor Aiyedatiwa, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ruling on APM’s Petition
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Benson Ogubu stated that the APM’s petition was riddled with unsubstantiated claims, including allegations of voting without accreditation, over-voting, corrupt practices, and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He noted that the petition was not supported by any material facts or verifiable evidence.
The Tribunal also held that the witness testimony presented by the APM was of “no probative value,” pointing out that the written statement failed to disclose its source and should be disregarded.
Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape fully concurred with the ruling.
The panel concluded that the APM’s petition had no merit and dismissed it in its entirety, ordering that all parties bear their respective legal costs.
SDP’s Petition Also Dismissed
In a similar ruling, the Tribunal threw out the petition filed by the SDP, whose candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, had alleged irregularities such as over-voting, discrepancies in vote entries in Form EC8A, and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
Represented by counsel Prince Adewole Adebayo, the SDP argued that the election result was marred by illegalities.
However, the Tribunal, siding with submissions made by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on behalf of the respondents, found that the SDP’s claims lacked substance and were not grounded in credible evidence.
The Tribunal emphasized that electoral petitions must be based on hard facts and not “speculations, propaganda, or emotions,” adding that the reliefs sought could not be granted on the basis of hearsay.
The panel dismissed the petition as baseless and declared it a waste of judicial time, also ordering that both parties bear their individual costs.
Governor Aiyedatiwa has yet to issue a formal statement on the rulings, but sources close to the Government House described the outcome as a “well-deserved vindication” of the people’s choice at the polls.
