A Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State, has dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, contesting the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Edema filed the appeal following a verdict of the Federal High Court who struck out his case. He had asked the trial court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aiyedatiwa, and his running mate, Adelami, from the list of candidates that contested in the election.
But the Appeal Court in a lead judgement delivered by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye validated the of the verdict of the Federal High Court.
The appellate court held that Edema’s case was an abuse of court process and lacked of merit. The court then awarded a fine of N1 million in favour of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami.
The Ondo State Government through state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo SAN in reaction to the judgement, said, “One cannot but salute the industry and courage of the judges. I was in the court from the beginning to the end. You can see the erudition and the research that can sum up the judgment. On the judgment, I think we will need to first see this as another reaffirmation of the mandate of the people reposed on the governor of the state, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“We have been saying it; the 18–0 is not a fluke, and this has been reaffirmed again. One just needs to salute the courage of the whole people of this state. Both the appellant and the respondent are citizens of this state.
“I have been saying this: there must be an end to this litigation; the people have spoken, and they spoke clearly. Using any other means, running from pillar to post, will not help; we belong to the same family, and we need to come together. What we should be discussing now is to see how we can move Ondo State forward, not with this endless litigation. Going further is a waste of time.”
