The Supreme Court has affirmed the victory of Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progress Congress (APC) in the last governorship election held in Ondo State on 16 November 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice John Okoro, dismissed the three appeals on Wednesday for lacking in merit.
The appeals were challenging the earlier decisions of the Court Appeal, which upheld the outcome of the election.
The appeals were filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye; and All Peoples Movement (APM) and its candidate, Ogunfeyimi Kolawole.
When the appeal by the PDP and Ajayi was called, their lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba told the court that his clients instructed him to withdraw the appeal, which informed why he filed a notice of withdrawal on September 16.
Lawyer to the SDP and Akingboye, Adewole Adebayo informed that the party’s candidate (Akingboye) died on August 13 prompting his decision to withdraw the appeal.
Adebayo, who also represented the APM and Kolawole equally withdrew the appeal filed by them.
Lawyers to the respondents in the three appeals did not object to appellants’ lawyers applications to withdraw.
They however, expressed displeasure over what they described as frivolous appeals intended solely to waste time, money and the Supreme Court’s resources.
Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, (SAN) represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, (SAN) represented Aiyedatiwa; Hakeem Afolabi (SAN) represented the Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, while Olusola Oke (SAN) represented the APC.
Ruling, Justice Okoro, expressed disappointment about the decision by the appellants to file the cases which relate to issues that had already been settled in law.
As it relates to the case by APM, for example, Justice Okoro noted that the party only called one witness at the tribunal to prove a petition that was challenging the election results from 18 Local Government Areas and over 3,000 polling units.
The judge said, but for the PDP’s decision to withdraw and the death of the SDP candidate, the court would have sanctioned the appellants and their lawyers for abusing judicial process.
Justice Okoro, while dismissing the appeals, cautioned lawyers against filing such frivolous appeals in the future.
Aiyedatiwa was in court to witness Wednesday’s proceedings.
Speaking after the proceedings, Adegboruwa commended the Supreme Court’s handling of the cases.
Adegboruwa said: “I commend the Supreme Court for its proactive stand in identifying frivolous cases for dismissal and for hearing these appeals during its vacation period, given the constitutional timeline.
“I also salute the industry of the Justices in managing their heavy workload. There must, however, be consequences for filing frivolous cases, and | call for reforms to strengthen ethics and accountability.”
Adegboruwa added that with the governor’s mandate now fully affirmed, the administration would focus on development and delivery of campaign promises.