An Appeal Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed an appeal seeking to nullify the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
The court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which dismissed the suit filed by the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
NNPP had challenged the validity of the primary that produced Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Olugbenga Edema, NNPP candidate for the election, had sought the court’s order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the nomination and the publication of the names of Aiyedatiwa of the APC and his deputy as candidates.
However, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke dismissed the suit.
Displeased with the verdict of the court, Edema appealed to the appellate court where he asked the court to invoke its power to assume jurisdiction as the trial court.
He also asked the court to overturn the lower court’s decision that dismissed the suit.
In the verdict, the three-man appeal panel unanimously resolved all the issues against Edema and consequently dismissed the appeal for abuse of court process and for lack of merit.
The court also awarded a fine of N1 million to each of the respondents.
