The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s suit challenging his eligibility to seek re-election in Ondo State, affirming the Federal High Court’s ruling and awarding N4m in costs against him
Court of Appeal Dismisses Gov Aiyedatiwa’s Eligibility Suit, Upholds Trial Court Ruling
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in a case questioning his eligibility to contest the upcoming governorship election.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel on Monday, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam declared that the Federal High Court in Akure acted within its discretion when it allowed the plaintiff, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, to amend his originating summons.
Onyemenam ruled: “The appellant failed to show that the amendment occasioned any miscarriage of justice or denied him the right to a fair hearing.”
The appellate court therefore struck out Aiyedatiwa’s appeal for lacking merit and ordered him to pay N2 million in costs.
The ruling upheld the November 24, 2025, decision of the Federal High Court granting Egbuwalo leave to amend his suit challenging the governor’s eligibility for re-election.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal also dismissed Aiyedatiwa’s application to set aside its January 27, 2026, order staying proceedings at the trial court. The panel explained that the stay was necessary to preserve the integrity of the appellate process, noting: “The order was necessary to preserve the res in the matter and prevent the appellate proceedings from being rendered nugatory.”
The court added that asking it to overturn its own valid order would amount to sitting on appeal over its own decision. It advised the governor that his only option was to approach the Supreme Court.
The panel subsequently awarded another N2 million in costs against Aiyedatiwa, further compounding the legal setback for the Ondo governor. Read More
