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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed confidence in securing victory at the state’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, following the November 16, 2024, election.
Speaking with journalists after the inaugural sitting of the tribunal on Friday, Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his belief in the legitimacy of his win, describing the election as historic.
“The election was free, fair, and credible. The people of Ondo State made history by ensuring that, for the first time, a candidate won in all 18 local government areas. That alone speaks volumes about the trust and confidence they have in my leadership,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission after securing 366,781 votes, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party, which garnered 117,845 votes. Other parties, including the Social Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, scored fewer than 5,000 votes each.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Benson Ogubu, with Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape, began its inaugural sitting at the State High Court premises in Akure, the state capital, over three months after the election.
Despite Aiyedatiwa’s victory, the PDP, the SDP, and the ADC have filed petitions challenging the outcome. Specifically, PDP candidate Mr. Agboola Ajayi, through his counsel Ishaka Dikko, has filed a petition against the conduct of the election.
Other petitioners are seeking to annul the election, arguing that the results do not reflect the electorate’s wishes and that the APC candidates were not qualified.
During the pre-trial conference, all parties agreed to call a total of 149 witnesses: the PDP will call 43, INEC will call 19, Aiyedatiwa will call 32, and the APC and Adelami will call 20 and 35 witnesses, respectively.
Justice Ogubu assured the parties that they would receive a fair hearing, emphasising that all proceedings would be grounded in the constitution.
He also advised counsel not to preempt the tribunal’s decisions and to
refrain from engaging with the press until the final ruling is made.
The panel has set February 10 for the submission of applications, preliminary objections, and replies on points of law, ensuring the case moves forward without delay.
Explaining his presence at the tribunal, Aiyedatiwa said his attendance was not out of fear but as an opportunity to learn. “There is nothing to worry about. The election was peaceful and considered one of the most peaceful, credible, and transparent elections in Nigeria in recent times. Attending the tribunal allows me to listen to the opposition’s arguments,” he said.
He added, “Learning is a continuous process. Even as a governor, I still want to learn about what is going on in the judiciary, especially with the esteemed justices on the panel. It is an exercise for me, and I want to be part of it. There is nothing to worry about,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
