Breaking: Supreme Court Upholds Aiyedatiwa’s Candidacy, Dismisses PDP Appeal

The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, contesting the legitimacy of the joint ticket of Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olayide Adelami, in the Ondo State governorship election.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the court ruled that the appeal lacked merit and that the appellants had no legal standing to challenge Adelami’s nomination. The court also imposed a fine of ₦8 million on the PDP and Ajayi, allocating ₦2 million to each of the four respondents—Adelami, Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP and Ajayi had alleged that Adelami submitted a forged West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate to INEC and possessed multiple identities. They sought to disqualify Adelami and nullify the joint ticket. However, the court dismissed these claims, affirming the validity of the APC ticket. Further updates are anticipated.