Tribunal Upholds Ondo Governor's Victory, Rejects Election Challenges
Trial Decision Issued on Complaints by PDP and SDP Regarding Aiyedatiwa's Election Outcome
The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has turned down several petitions that contested the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, elected on November 16, 2024. The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Benson Ogubu, made this decision in an 8-hour extensive ruling on June 4, 2025.
In this ruling, the tribunal dismissed a petition submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who had alleged widespread irregularities and requested the cancellation of the poll results. The trial also rejected similar petitions from parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples' Movement (APM), and African Alliance (AA), all questioning the legitimacy of the election.
Critics had accused Aiyedatiwa, who represented the All Progressives Congress (APC), of fraudulent practices during his victorious re-election campaign. However, with this decision, the tribunal validated his mandate as the lawfully elected governor of Ondo State, thereby putting an end to the legal disputes related to the 2024 gubernatorial election.
Despite the petitioners' claims of irregularities like over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the tribunal found their evidence insufficient and their allegations unproven [4][3]. Furthermore, the petitioners failed to prove that any alleged irregularities had any substantial influence on the election’s outcome [4][5]. Additionally, the petitioners' lawyers could not provide substantial testimonies or witnesses to support their claims, which weakened their case [5].
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- The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, in its 8-hour ruling on June 4, 2025, rejected petitions from parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples' Movement (APM), and African Alliance (AA), challenging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's legitimacy.
- Former Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was validated as the lawfully elected governor by the tribunal, dismissing petitions including one submitted by the PDP and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who had alleged widespread irregularities.
- Despite the petitioners' claims of irregularities like over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the tribunal found their evidence insufficient and their allegations unproven.
- The tribunal also upheld the election of Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was elected on November 16, 2024, as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
- There was political news outside the tribunal's ruling, such as details of discussions between President Tinubu and Pastor Tunde Bakare emerging in the public domain.
