Kehinde Fajobi
Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed his confidence in winning the ongoing case at the state’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal following the November 16, 2024, elections.
After the tribunal’s first sitting on Friday, Aiyedatiwa shared his strong belief in the legitimacy of his election victory, calling the election a milestone.
“The election was fair, transparent, and credible. For the first time in Ondo State, a candidate won in all 18 local councils. This shows the immense trust the people have in my leadership,” he commented.
Aiyedatiwa, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 366,781 votes, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which secured 117,845 votes.
Smaller parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), each garnered fewer than 5,000 votes.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Benson Ogubu, with Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape, convened for its inaugural session at the State High Court in Akure, over three months after the election.
Despite Aiyedatiwa’s victory, the PDP, SDP, and ADC have all filed petitions challenging the results. PDP candidate, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, through his lawyer Ishaka Dikko, has raised concerns about the election process.
Other petitioners argue that the results fail to reflect the true will of the people, and claim that APC candidates were not qualified.
At the pre-trial meeting, the parties agreed to summon a total of 149 witnesses: the PDP will present 43 witnesses, INEC will call 19, Aiyedatiwa will present 32, while the APC and Adelami will each present 20 and 35 witnesses, respectively.
Justice Ogubu assured all parties of a fair trial, emphasising that decisions would be grounded in constitutional principles.
He also instructed legal representatives to refrain from commenting publicly on the case until the final verdict is reached.
The tribunal has set February 10 for the submission of applications, preliminary objections, and responses to legal points to ensure the case proceeds without unnecessary delays.
Explaining his presence at the tribunal, Aiyedatiwa stated, “There’s no cause for concern. The election was one of the most peaceful, fair, and transparent in recent times. I am here to listen to the opposition’s arguments.”
He added, “Learning is a constant process. Even as a governor, I seek to understand the workings of the judiciary, especially with the esteemed panel of justices. This is an opportunity for me, and I want to be part of it. There’s no reason to worry.”