By Akindele Orimolade, with additional reports from Allen Sowore
After nearly 22 months of courtroom battles, the Supreme Court has finally affirmed Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, as the duly elected leaders of Ondo State.
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Governor Aiyedatiwa, who faced relentless legal challenges—from impeachment threats to post-election petitions—secured a decisive victory at the apex court on 17 September, 2025, bringing closure to months of political tension.
The legal onslaught began ahead of the 2024 Ondo governorship election, with cases questioning both the APC primaries and Adelami’s eligibility. After Aiyedatiwa’s emphatic win at the polls,scoring 366,000 votes against PDP’s Agboola Ajayi’s 117,000, fresh petitions flooded the Election Tribunal in Akure.
Determined to defend his mandate, Aiyedatiwa through Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice assembled one of Nigeria’s most formidable legal teams featuring heavyweights such as Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; and Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, among others. Remarkably, the governor did not lose a single case at any level of the judiciary.
Supreme Court Ruling
The five-man panel of Justices, John Inyang Okoro, Emmanuel Agim, Moore Adumein, Stephen Adah, and Mohammed Idris dismissed the three pending appeals after the appellants withdrew, sensing imminent defeat.
PDP and Agboola Ajayi’s appeal was struck out following a notice of withdrawal.
SDP’s case, filed by the late Otunba Akingboye Benson Bamidele, was discontinued by counsel due to the candidate’s death.
Allied Peoples Movement’s petition also collapsed for lack of merit.
The justices, before rising, rebuked some counsels for filing frivolous appeals, stressing that the apex court must not be bogged down by trivial cases.
Aiyedatiwa Reacts
Speaking outside the courtroom, a visibly relieved Aiyedatiwa dedicated his victory to the people of Ondo State, thanking God, the judiciary, and his legal team. He pledged to “work even harder to build a greater Sunshine State.”
APC Celebrates
The Ondo APC described the verdict as the “final endorsement of the people’s mandate.”
State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, congratulated the governor, deputy, party faithful, and citizens, urging opposition parties to “put the defeat behind them and join hands in rebuilding the state.”
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, the party also commended the judiciary, INEC, and security agencies for their roles in upholding democracy.
With the Supreme Court verdict, Governor Aiyedatiwa and Dr. Adelami now have an unchallenged four-year runway to govern Ondo State.
