The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Akure, is set to deliver its verdict on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, challenging the outcome of the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
The three-man panel, led by Justice Benson Ogubu, has concluded hearing the case and is expected to rule on the matter in the coming days.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the election after securing victory across all 18 local government areas of the state. He polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat other candidates.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ajayi and the PDP petitioned the tribunal, alleging widespread irregularities during the election and demanding the annulment of the results.
“The election was fraught with serious irregularities that compromised its integrity,” Ajayi alleged in the petition, calling for justice and a fair review of the process.
In addition to the PDP, several other political parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and African Alliance, also filed separate petitions, contesting the credibility of the poll.
The tribunal’s judgment is expected to be a significant moment in the ongoing legal contest over the state’s governorship seat.
