Ondo 2024: Ajayi heads to court, files suit to stop Aiyedatiwa as Ondo gov

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, on Monday, revealed he had filed a petition at the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal against the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alleging several irregularities during the electoral process that he believes undermined the integrity of the election.

This said suit was filed some 24 days after the governorship poll.

Ayedatiwa having polled 366,781 votes was declared winner in the election, ahead of PDP’s Agboola Ajayi, who scored 117,845 votes.

Ajayi disclosed that his legal team had filed the petition at the election tribunal with the hope of getting justice from the courts as he was dissatisfied with the outcome of the election.

Speaking at the party secretariat in Akure, the PDP candidate said the election results, as declared, do not reflect the aspirations of the people of Ondo State, adding that the declaration of Governor Aiyedatiwa as the winner by INEC was met with widespread disapproval.

In addition, the PDP candidate called on the National Assembly to speedily effect necessary changes to the Electoral Act to ensure an acceptable electoral process.

Recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, had dismissed the suit filed by Ajayi in which he challenged the November 16 Ondo governorship election.

The presiding Judge, Justice Toyin Adegoke, held that the candidate of the PDP, who challenged the qualification of the APC’s candidates, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olaiyide Adelami lacked locus standi to file the suit.

The judge also held that the case filed by Ajayi and the PDP was barred by statute having filed it outside the 14 days required by the Electoral Act.

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