Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, has voiced confidence in his ability to win the state’s governorship election petitions tribunal after the November 16, 2024 poll.
Speaking to journalists after the tribunal’s first hearing on Friday, Aiyedatiwa maintained his trust in the legality of his victory, hailing the election as historic.
“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,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 366,781 votes, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party, which garnered 117,845 votes. Other parties, including the Social Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, scored fewer than 5,000 votes each.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Benson Ogubu and Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape, convened for the first time at the State High Court in Akure, the state capital, more than three months after the election.
Despite Aiyedatiwa’s victory, the PDP, SDP, and ADC have filed petitions disputing the results. Specifically, PDP candidate Mr. Agboola Ajayi, through his counsel Ishaka Dikko, has filed a challenge challenging the election’s conduct.
Other petitioners are attempting to overturn the election, claiming that the results do not reflect the electorate’s intentions and that the APC candidates were ineligible.
During the pre-trial conference, the parties agreed to summon 149 witnesses: the PDP will call 43, INEC will call 19, Aiyedatiwa will call 32, and the APC and Adelami will each call 20 and 35 witnesses.
Justice Ogubu informed the parties that they would have a fair hearing, underlining that all proceedings will be based on the constitution.
He further instructed attorneys not to preempt the tribunal’s decisions and to refrain from talking with the press until the final finding is made.
The panel has set February 10 as the deadline for submitting petitions, preliminary objections, and comments on points of law, ensuring that the case gets forward without delay.
Speaking on his explaining his presence at the tribunal, Aiyedatiwa said his attendance was not out of fear but as an opportunity to learn. “There is nothing to worry about. The election was peaceful and considered one of the most peaceful, credible, and transparent elections in Nigeria in recent times. Attending the tribunal allows me to listen to the opposition’s arguments,” he said.
He added, “Learning is a continuous process. Even as a governor, I still want to learn about what is going on in the judiciary, especially with the esteemed justices on the panel. It is an exercise for me, and I want to be part of it. There is nothing to worry about,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
