Court bars Aiyedatiwa from seeking second term
…Ruling, unnecessary distraction –Gov
BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI
A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has barred Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, from contesting the 2028 governorship election, ruling that he would have exceeded the constitutional tenure limit if allowed to run again.
The court, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, held that permitting Aiyedatiwa to seek another term would violate the provision of the 1999 Constitution which limits a governor to a maximum of eight years in office.
The suit was filed by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr. Akin Egbuwalo, who asked the court to interpret constitutional provisions regarding the eligibility of the governor and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, to contest another term in 2028.
In its ruling, the court noted that Aiyedatiwa first assumed office in December 2023, following the death of former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, before winning the governorship election and being sworn in again in 2025.
The court held that counting both periods together meant he would exceed the constitutional limit, if he remained in office beyond 2028.
Reacting to the judgment, the governor described the controversy over his eligibility as premature and a distraction, noting that he had not formally declared any intention to contest the 2028 election.
The ruling is the latest development in a series of legal battles over Aiyedatiwa’s tenure, after the Court of Appeal recently dismissed his challenge to earlier proceedings in the case.
