The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on July 31, 2025, has upheld the election of Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and Dr. Olayide Adelami as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State . The ruling follows the court’s rejection of appeals filed by several opposition parties — the PDP, ADC, APM and SDP — which sought to annul the results of the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
A panel comprising Justices Nimpar Yargata, K.I. Amadi, and I.M. Sani delivered a unanimous verdict, striking out the petitions on the grounds that the appellants failed to substantiate claims of Electoral Act violations. They did not demonstrate how alleged irregularities impacted outcomes across polling units, wards, or local government areas . The court also noted that no credible witnesses were presented at the tribunal to support the allegations, effectively amounting to case abandonment.
In addition to affirming the tribunal’s ruling, the appellate court imposed a cost of ₦1.5 million against the petitioners . Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the decision, praising the judiciary for its thorough and unanimous judgment. He expressed thanksgiving to God and the electorate, noting that more than 366,000 residents endorsed his administration in the November 2024 poll—a mandate first validated by the tribunal and now reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal.
