The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal delivered its verdict on Wednesday evening, upholding the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2024, governorship election. The tribunal dismissed the petitions filed by five political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), challenging the election results. These parties had alleged widespread irregularities, including over-voting, multiple thumb-printing, and BVAS malfunctions, as grounds for nullifying the election. The tribunal, however, found these claims to be unsubstantiated and lacking sufficient evidence to warrant overturning the outcome.
The three-man panel, presided over by Justice Benson Ogbu, delivered a unanimous ruling, declaring that the petitioners failed to present compelling evidence to support their allegations. The tribunal characterized the petitions as weak, lacking seriousness, and ultimately failing to meet the legal threshold required to invalidate an election. The judges emphasized that mere allegations, without strong corroborating evidence, cannot form the basis for overturning the will of the electorate as expressed through the ballot box. The tribunal insisted on the presentation of clear and convincing proof of electoral malpractice before it could consider altering the declared results.
The PDP, the primary opposition party, and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, bore the brunt of the tribunal’s criticism for their failure to substantiate their weighty accusations. Despite leveling serious allegations of electoral irregularities, the PDP’s legal team failed to provide concrete evidence linking these alleged irregularities to the overall outcome of the election. The tribunal stressed the importance of demonstrating a causal link between any alleged malpractice and the final result, a connection the PDP failed to establish convincingly. The judges concluded that Ajayi “failed woefully” to demonstrate that the alleged irregularities had a material impact on the election results, rendering his petition unsustainable.
Following the judgment, the PDP’s legal representative, Olujimi Oluseye, expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the ruling, indicating their intention to review the judgment thoroughly before deciding on the next course of action. While acknowledging the court’s authority, Oluseye emphasized the party’s right to pursue further legal redress if deemed necessary. He reiterated their commitment to exploring all available legal avenues to challenge the outcome, signaling the possibility of an appeal to a higher court. This suggests that the legal battle surrounding the Ondo governorship election may not be conclusively resolved, pending the PDP’s review and potential appeal.
In contrast, Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the tribunal’s decision, expressing gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State for their continued support. He interpreted the tribunal’s affirmation of his victory as a validation of the mandate given to him by over 366,000 voters. Aiyedatiwa characterized the petitions challenging his victory as attempts to “steal the mandate through the back door,” emphasizing the tribunal’s role in upholding the integrity of the electoral process. He used the opportunity to call for unity and collaboration, urging his political opponents to join his administration in advancing the development of Ondo State.
Extending an olive branch to the opposition, Aiyedatiwa reiterated his commitment to inclusive governance and invited all stakeholders, including those who contested his victory, to contribute their ideas towards building a better Ondo State. He emphasized his open-door policy and his willingness to collaborate with individuals from all political affiliations for the common good. This call for unity and collaboration reflects an attempt to move beyond the contentious election period and focus on the task of governing the state. It remains to be seen how the opposition will respond to this invitation for collaboration, given their expressed dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s ruling.
