The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has ruled that Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot contest for another term in the 2028 governorship election in Ondo State.
The decision followed a suit filed by an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Akin Egbuwalo, who sought the court’s interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution concerning the eligibility of the governor and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, to seek another term.
Other parties listed in the suit included the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney General of Ondo State, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, and the APC.
Delivering judgment, Justice Toyin Adegoke held that Aiyedatiwa would not be eligible to run again in 2028.
The court ruled that the governor had already begun serving part of a tenure when he was sworn in on December 27, 2023, to complete the term of the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa later won the governorship election held on November 16, 2024, and was subsequently sworn in for a new term on February 24, 2025.
Based on the constitutional provisions cited in the suit, the court concluded that contesting again in 2028 would amount to exceeding the number of terms allowed under the law.
