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Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal submitted by Peoples Democratic Party ‘s governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, in the November 16th, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
Recall that Mr. Ajayi is seeking to annul the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressive Congress as the winner of the poll.
The five-member panel of Justices of the apex court on Tuesday, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that Ajayi, who is not a member of the APC cannot challenge the outcome of the primary election.
Justice Mohammed noted that the PDP’s candidate lacked the requisite locus standi to institute and prosecute the case, not being a member of the APC that organized the primary election that produced Governor Aiyedatiwa and his Deputy.
READ MORE: Aiyedatiwa Sworn In As 7th Ondo Governor
The panel agreed with the defendants in the appeal that Ajayi’s case was statute barred as it was not filed within fourteen days of the cause of action being the date of submission of the names of the Governor and his Deputy to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Defendants challenged the competence of the case of Ajayi who alleged forgery, impersonation and false identity against the Deputy Governor in his suit which he commenced by originating Summons, without producing the names and particulars of the person allegedly impersonated.
Ajayi filed the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja on 7th June 2024, challenging the nomination of the Governor Aiyedatiwa on the technical ground of alleged disqualification of his Deputy.
The apex court, in its judgement on Tuesday, affirmed the concurrent judgments of the lower court, dismissed the appeal brought before it by Ajayi and also ordered him to pay a fine of N2 million to each of the four respondents in the appeal.
English (US) ·