The Supreme Court has dismissed a case brought by Hon. Agboola Alfred Ajayi, former Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2024 governorship election.
Ajayi had challenged the election of Deputy Governor Dr Olayide Owolabi Adelami, arguing that discrepancies in his name change made his nomination invalid.
A five-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, ruled unanimously that Ajayi and the PDP had no legal basis to contest Adelami’s nomination.
The court also rejected Ajayi’s claims against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the appeal as baseless.
Ajayi and the PDP were ordered to pay N8 million in costs, with N2 million awarded to each of the four respondents: Adelami, Aiyedatiwa, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court ruled that Adelami’s name change from “Jackson” to “Owolabi” was legally documented and did not amount to electoral fraud.
Ondo State’s Attorney General, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, welcomed the verdict as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, reaffirming the governor’s mandate and the APC-led government’s legitimacy in Ondo State.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court has put an end to the legal dispute, confirming Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 2024 election and solidifying the APC-led government’s mandate in Ondo State.
