Court Upholds Aiyedatiwa's Win, Grants Him ₦1 Million over NNPP's Edema
A Rousing Verdict in Akure:
In a noteworthy decision, the Court of Appeal sitting in the heart of Ondo State has upheld the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Governor, as well as his deputy, Olayide Adelami. This triumphant verdict came after a legal battle instigated by Gbenga Edema of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), who challenged an earlier Federal High Court ruling.
According to our reporting, Edema sought to invalidate the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election that resulted in Aiyedatiwa and Adelami's selection. However, the appellate court, led by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, affirmed the lower court's dismissal of Edema's suit, condemning procedural flaws and abuse of the judicial process.
Insights reveal that the key procedural blunder lay in the NNPP's abrupt withdrawal from the case, leaving Edema without a valid legal standing. Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Federal High Court had previously noted that the suit became incompetent due to the NNPP's departure, making it impossible for Edema to continue the legal battle.
Justice Adegoke's dismissal of the suit was echoed by the Court of Appeal, which resolved all issues against Edema and deemed his appeal void of merit. Additionally, a penalty of ₦1 million was imposed upon Edema, to be distributed among Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The counsel to the Deputy Governor, Remi Olatubora (SAN), applauded the judgement, expressing his disapproval of such lawsuits and commenting on the time wasted during the court proceedings. "The joy of it is that justice has been done and the case has been dismissed with a cost of N1 million to each respondent," he said.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), commended the judges' courage in delivering the ruling. Ajulo expressed his belief that the verdict reaffirmed the people's mandate to Governor Aiyedatiwa. He also emphasized the need for an end to litigation and urged forward momentum for the growth of the state.
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- The Court of Appeal in Ondo State has upheld the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Governor and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, reaffirming their victory in the face of a legal challenge by Gbenga Edema from the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).
- In a related development, a penalty of ₦1 million was imposed upon Edema, to be distributed among Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his unsuccessful appeal.
- Remi Olatubora, counsel to the Deputy Governor, applauded the judgement, expressing his disapproval of such lawsuits and commenting on the time wasted during the court proceedings.
- The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), commended the judges' courage in delivering the ruling, emphasizing the need for an end to litigation and urging forward momentum for the growth of the state.
- It should be noted that the NNPP's abrupt withdrawal from Edema's lawsuit left him without a valid legal standing, making their case incompetent according to Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Federal High Court.
- In other political news, reports indicate that NNPP Senator, Kawu, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), echoing similar moves by some members of the party.
- On a separate note, ongoing conflicts in various regions of Nigeria continue to pose challenges in terms of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics, as reported in general-news channels worldwide.
