The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Akure has picked June 4, 2025, to announce its decision on the legal disputes surrounding the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
The tribunal is handling petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi.
They are asking the court to cancel the results of the election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared in favour of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The three-person tribunal, led by Justice Benson Ogbu and supported by Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape, fixed the judgment date after all parties involved in the case submitted and adopted their final written arguments.
Ajayi and the PDP claim that the election was not properly conducted and accuse INEC of failing to follow the Electoral Act.
They want the certificate given to Aiyedatiwa taken back.
Their lawyers, Ishaka Dikko and Bankole Akomolafe, urged the tribunal to annul the result based on what they describe as widespread irregularities.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also submitted separate petitions challenging how the election was conducted.
One of the leading figures from the SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, also raised concerns over how the process was handled, insisting that the poll was riddled with problems.
On the other hand, Governor Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Olayide Adelami, INEC, and other respondents, represented by top lawyers including Wole Olanipekun and Tayo Oyetibo, told the tribunal that the election followed proper procedures.
They argued that the claims of malpractice were not backed with strong proof, and that the PDP and other petitioners failed to bring forward enough solid evidence or reliable witnesses to support their case.
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