The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Lucky Aiyedatiwa challenging a lower court decision in a suit questioning his qualification to contest the next governorship election in Ondo State.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Monday, March 9, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in Akure, which had earlier allowed the plaintiff, Akindele Egbuwalo, to amend his originating summons in the case.
Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the trial court acted within its powers in granting the request to amend the legal process.
The appellate court also ruled that the governor failed to prove that the lower court’s decision caused him any prejudice or denied him the right to fair hearing.
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The dispute originated from a ruling delivered on November 24, 2025, when the Federal High Court in Akure granted the plaintiff permission to adjust the legal filings through which he is contesting Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to participate in the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
Following that decision, Aiyedatiwa approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the ruling.
However, the appellate court found the appeal to be without merit and dismissed it.
The court further ordered the governor to pay ₦2 million as costs.