A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday, sealed the ambition of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for another term in office.
The court presided over by Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke held that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) did not permit an elected President, Vice President, Governor, or Deputy Governor to remain in office for more than eight years.
Justice Adegoke held that allowing Aiyedatiwa to contest again would violate the constitutional provision limiting the tenure of elected executive office holders.
The decision of the court followed a suit filed by Dr. Akin Egbuwalo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which challenged Governor Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to contest for another term as governor, having been sworn-in as governor on December 27, 2024, following the death of former governor of Ondo State, Ogbeni Rotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa later contested and won the Ondo State Governorship that held on November 16, 2024 and was sworn in again on February 24, 2025.
Aiyedatiwa had defeated the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi.
Dr. Akin Egbuwalo had approached the court and sought the interpretation of the provisions of the constitution with regards to the governor’s eligibility to contest for another term in office having been sworn=in twice.
In the suit, Egbuwalo listed Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Olayide Adelami, and the APC as defendants in the suit.
