A hammer blow came for the re-election aspiration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State as a Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, halted his moves for another term in office.
The court presided over by Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke held that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not permit an elected President, Vice President, Governor, or Deputy Governor to remain in office for more than eight years.
Justice Adegoke held that allowing Aiyedatiwa to contest again would violate the constitutional provision limiting the tenure of elected executive office holders.
The decision of the court followed a suit filed by Dr. Akin Egbuwalo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which challenged Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to contest for another term as governor, having been sworn-in as governor on December 27, 2024, following the death of former Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa later contested and won the Ondo State Governorship that held on November 16, 2024 and was sworn in again on February 24, 2025.
He defeated the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi.
Dr. Egbuwalo had approached the court and sought the interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution with regards to the governor’s eligibility to run for another term in office having been sworn-in twice.
In the suit, Egbuwalo listed Aiyedatiwa, the state’s Deputy Gov. Olayide Adelami, and the APC as defendants in the suit.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Aiyedatiwa.
