Before his emergence as Acting Governor—and subsequently Governor—following the unfortunate death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, on 27th December 2023, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa faced series of legal battles. Many of these were attempts either to challenge his position or to halt the planned impeachment against him.
As the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election approached and Governor Aiyedatiwa declared his interest to contest, the legal onslaught intensified. Fresh cases arose, particularly challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s primary election and questioning the eligibility of his deputy governorship candidate, Dr.Olayide Adelami.
Despite securing a resounding victory at the polls—where he polled over 366,000 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who garnered 117,000 votes, alongside 15 other contestants—post-election petitions flooded the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Akure. These petitions sought to upturn what was widely acknowledged as a free, fair, and credible election.
Determined to defend his mandate, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through the State Attorney General, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, CON, assembled a formidable legal team. The team featured some of Nigeria’s finest legal minds, including Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Olusola Oke, SAN; Professor Abdukarim Kana; Hakeem Afolabi, SAN; Abdul-Kadir Olajide Ajana, SAN; Tayo Oyetibo SAN, Yinka Orokoto; Abiola Olawole, Adelanke Akinrata; and Dr. A. K. Adewusi, among others.
Remarkably, Governor Aiyedatiwa did not lose a single case—whether at the State High Court, Federal High Court, the Tribunal, or the Court of Appeal.
On 17th September 2025, the Supreme Court finally laid all controversies to rest. A panel comprising Justices John Inyang Okoro, Emmanuel Agim, Moore Adumein, Stephen Adah, and Mohammed Idris unanimously dismissed the three pending appeals against Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory after the appellants, sensing imminent and overwhelming defeat, voluntarily withdrew their cases.
First, the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Chief Agboola Ajayi, was dismissed following their notice of discontinuance.
Second, the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, the late Otunba Akingboye Benson Bamidele, was struck out after their counsel, Aderemi Abimbola, applied for withdrawal in view of the appellant’s demise.
Before adjourning, the Honourable Justices sternly reprimanded some of the lawyers for bringing frivolous appeals, cautioning that the Supreme Court is a busy and serious institution that must not be burdened with trivial litigation.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was present in court as always, gallantly walked out of the courtroom alongside the Ondo State APC Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and other party leaders, visibly grateful to God Almighty, the Nigerian judiciary, and his legal team.
Addressing the press, the Governor dedicated his victory to the people of Ondo State and pledged to work even harder to build a greater state. The Supreme Court’s pronouncement of 17th September 2025 thus marks the end of a long season of legal battles and the ultimate triumph of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Allen Sowore, Esq
SSA to the Ondo State Governor on Strategic Communication
17th September, 2025
