S/Court dismisses appeals against Aiyedatiwa as PDP, SDP withdraw suits

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This followed the withdrawal of Ajayi’s appeal. Ajayi, through his counsel, said he withdrew the case after due consultations with members of the PDP.  He extended his best wishes to Governor […]

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

This followed the withdrawal of Ajayi’s appeal.

Ajayi, through his counsel, said he withdrew the case after due consultations with members of the PDP.  He extended his best wishes to Governor Aiyedatiwa and pledged to continue to work for the development of Ondo State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while declaring Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the election, disclosed that he won in 18 local government areas of the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured 366,781 votes. He defeated his closest rival, Ajayi of the PDP.

The five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro also dismissed the appeals filed by the governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bamidele Akingboye, and his Allied Peoples Movement (APM) counterpart, Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.

Counsel for Akingboye and the SDP had informed the court of the intention to withdraw the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

Counsel for the respondents did not object to the withdrawal.

Daily Trust reports that the opposition parties had earlier approached the tribunal and the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the state capital, to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s victory.