Agboola Ajayi, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, has formally withdrawn his lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Registrar of the apex court, Mr. Ajayi said, “As the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, I have engaged in thoughtful discussions with my family, party members, associates, and legal advisors. After careful deliberation, we have reached a consensus that the appeal should be withdrawn, and I’m by this letter, so do.”
The former deputy governor noted that his decision was guided by the need to promote peace and good governance in the state. *“Having served as the former deputy governor and as a representative of my constituents at the national level, my foremost commitment is to the principles of good governance and the promotion of peaceful coexistence in Ondo State and across Nigeria.
“In this spirit, I extend my heartfelt wishes to His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as he leads our state, and I remain dedicated to contributing positively to the State and National development,”* he said.
Mr. Ajayi, who once served as deputy governor, pledged his support for Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership.
The withdrawal comes after the Akure Division of the Appeal Court dismissed Mr. Ajayi’s earlier suit challenging the APC governor’s victory in the November 16, 2024 election.
The PDP candidate had sought to nullify both Mr. Aiyedatiwa’s election and that of his deputy, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, alleging discrepancies in Mr. Adelami’s name change. He also challenged the legitimacy of the governor’s candidacy and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the court ruled that the appellants lacked the necessary legal standing (locus standi) to pursue the case, rendering the appeal unsustainable. It further held that the case was “statute-barred,” affirming the earlier decisions of the Election Petition Tribunal.
According to the ruling, the cause of action arose on May 20, 2024, when the nomination forms were submitted to INEC. The suit, filed on June 7, 2024, exceeded the 14-day window prescribed by law.
As a result, the Appeal Court dismissed the case and ordered Mr. Ajayi to pay N2 million in costs to each of the four respondents.
Mr. Ajayi had also argued that Mr. Adelami, who once used “Jackson” as his middle name in secondary school, changed it to “Owolabi” without proper documentation.
