The inaugural sitting of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal commenced in Akure, the state capital, yesterday.
Speaking after attending the inaugural session, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the election as historic.
The New Daily Prime reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, defeating Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other candidates.
Dissatisfied with the election outcome, Agboola and others approached the court to reclaim their alleged stolen mandate.
The governor emphasised that his victory across all 18 local government areas was a true reflection of the people’s will.
He reiterated his confidence in the credibility of the November 16, 2024, governorship election, stating that the people of Ondo State had overwhelmingly voted for the right candidate.
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“The election was free, fair, and credible. The people of Ondo State made history by ensuring that, for the first time, a candidate won in all 18 local government areas. That alone speaks volumes about the trust and confidence they have in my leadership,”
The tribunal, presided over by Justice Nelson Ugubu, was set to hear petitions filed by three opposition parties—the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—challenging Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
The PDP, which emerged as the main petitioner, lined up 43 witnesses to substantiate its claims of alleged electoral malpractices.
Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed his interest in following the tribunal proceedings, noting that it presented an opportunity to observe the judiciary at work.
“And, you know, learning is continuous. Even though I’m the governor, I still also want to hear what is going on in the judiciary arm of government, particularly in this election petition. Having the legal professionals and the very competent justices on this panel, it’s an exercise for me. I just want to witness it and be part of it. There’s nothing to worry about,” he stated.
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Legal representatives from both the petitioners and respondents engaged in preliminary submissions, laying the groundwork for the hearing of the petitions in the coming weeks.
The tribunal adjourned to February 10th for further proceedings.
