A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, has ruled that the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, cannot seek another term in office.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke, held that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) did not permit an elected President, Vice President, Governor, or Deputy Governor to remain in office for more than eight years.
The court ruling followed a suit challenging Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to contest for another term as governor.
Aiyedatiwa was first sworn in as governor on December 27, 2024, following the death of the former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
He later contested and won the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state and was sworn in again on February 24, 2025.
In the election, the governor defeated the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi.
However, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Akin Egbuwalo, had approached the court, challenging the governor’s eligibility to contest for another term in office.
Egbuwalo listed Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Olayide Adelami, and the APC as defendants in the suit.
The court subsequently ruled that allowing Aiyedatiwa to contest again would violate the constitutional provision limiting the tenure of elected executive office holders.
Details of the judgment are expected to emerge later.
[StarNews]
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