Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State says he was caught off guard by the recent court ruling barring him from seeking reelection in 2028, describing the legal battle over his tenure as an unexpected distraction from governance.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the governor said the controversy over his tenure had never been part of his political calculations since assuming office.
“I never saw it coming. I didn’t prepare for it. All I was doing was just to govern,” Aiyedatiwa said while reacting to the court ruling that questioned his eligibility to contest another governorship election after completing the tenure of his predecessor.
The governor, who was first sworn in following the death of former Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu and later elected in his own right, said the issue of tenure interpretation lies strictly with the judiciary.
“My view is as stated in the Constitution. The Constitution is the ground rule, and interpretation lies in the hands of the judiciary,” he said.
During the interview, the anchor referenced provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, particularly Section 137(3), which provides that a person sworn in to complete the tenure of another elected official may not be elected to the same office for more than one additional term.
Responding to the question, Aiyedatiwa maintained that the scenario had not even arisen yet because he had not taken any steps toward another election.
“I have not presented myself for another election. I have not filled any form, I have not campaigned, and there is no timetable for such an election. So that scenario does not even occur at all,” he said.
The governor explained that since taking the oath of office on February 24, 2025, his focus has remained solely on delivering on campaign promises to the people of the state.
“All I was facing was just to govern and deliver to the people of Ondo State our election promises, and that is exactly what we are doing, by the grace of God,” he said.
He further described the court case as an unnecessary distraction.
“All of these court cases are just distractions that are not necessary,” he added.
Asked whether he would consider running again if the legal hurdles were eventually cleared and the law permitted it, Aiyedatiwa said the decision would ultimately rest with the people.
“If the people feel I have impressed them and they ask me to continue, and if the law permits, why not? It is service to the people,” he said.
The governor noted that the court action forced him to assemble a legal team despite his constitutional immunity while in office.
“All of a sudden I was sued, and I had to hire lawyers to defend me. Part of the defence was that you don’t have the right to sue me because I have immunity. But since the court has ruled, we will face it and see what happens going forward,” he said.
The legal dispute over Aiyedatiwa’s tenure follows a recent ruling that questioned whether he could constitutionally seek another term after completing the remaining tenure of his predecessor and subsequently winning election in his own right.
