Special Adviser to the Ondo state Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Comrade Bola Taiwo has, today, congratulated the Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, following his victory at the court of appeal, in Akure, Ondo state Capital, in a lawsuit challenging his emergence as the Governor of Ondo in the last Ondo state gubernatorial election, Peak Newspaper Nigeria reports.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the poll, having polled a total of 366,781 votes, defeating the candidates of other parties in the poll.
Political parties that were dissatisfied with the outcome of the election and Aiyedatiwa’s victory challenged the victory of the governor at the state Election Petition Tribunal, alleging that the election was characterised by irregularities and electoral malpractices at many polling units, which are non-compliant with the electoral law, but the tribunal struck out their petitions, upholding the defendants’ victory.
The election debtors, not satisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, approached the appellate court to challenge the tribunal’s verdict.
In a judgement delivered on Thursday, the three-man panel of appeal court judges – Justice Nimpar Yargata, Justice K.I. Amadi and Justice I.M. Sani, unanimously struck out the appeals, one after the other, for not substantiating the claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The appellate court also held that the appellants failed to prove their allegations against the election as they did not show how their claims affected the election in the various polling units, wards and local government areas where the election took place.
Following Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the appeal court, stakeholders, members and well-wishers have congratulated the seating Ondo state Governor.
Comrade Taiwo, in a press statement he issued today and posted on his official social media pages, described Aiyedatiwa’s victory as a “powerful reaffirmation of the mandate freely given by the people of Ondo State in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.”
“Your Excellency, your calm leadership and focus on development—even in the face of legal battles—remain a model of statesmanship. This victory is not only yours, but belongs to every citizen who believes in progress, justice, and good governance,” he added.
