The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, by dismissing an appeal challenging the validity of the APC primary that produced them as candidates.
Justice Oyebisi Omoleye delivered a unanimous judgment upholding the Federal High Court’s earlier ruling, which dismissed Olugbenga Edema’s suit, the New Nigeria People’s Party candidate, on procedural grounds.
Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Federal High Court ruled that Edema’s lawsuit became invalid after the NNPP withdrew from the case, leaving him without proper legal standing to force INEC to withdraw Aiyedatiwa and Adelami’s nominations due to alleged constitutional breaches in the APC primary process.
Edema asked the court to interpret Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Following the dismissal, Edema took his case to the appellate court in an attempt to have the decision reversed. Nevertheless, INEC, APC, Aiyedatiwa, and Adelami all filed motions to have the appeal dismissed, citing a lack of merit and an abuse of the court process.
The appellate court ruled in favor of the respondents, dismissing Edema’s case and imposing a ₦1 million fine on him. Remi Olatubora SAN, counsel to the Deputy Governor, praised the judgment, calling the lawsuit a misuse of judicial resources.
“This is a case of someone who ran under NNPP but is disputing the APC candidate’s win. The law should not allow such cases. Justice has been served”.
