The Ondo State governorship election petition tribunal delivered its verdict on June 4, 2025, affirming the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The tribunal, led by Justice Benson Ogbu, unanimously dismissed the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and others, citing incompetence and lack of merit in their claims.
Following the judgment, APC members celebrated openly in Akure, the state capital. However, Ajayi alleged that the APC had prior knowledge of the tribunal’s verdict, which explained their premature jubilation. He expressed disappointment with the tribunal’s decision and vowed to appeal at the Court of Appeal, stating that the judgment failed to properly analyze the evidence presented.
In response, the Ondo APC demanded an unreserved apology from Ajayi and the PDP, condemning the leak allegation as an unwarranted attack on the judiciary’s integrity and disrespectful to the voters. The party’s media director, Steve Otaloro, emphasized that the PDP’s claims were a reaction to their electoral defeat and called on them to retract their statements.
Ajayi, while reviewing the judgment, stressed his commitment to pursuing justice despite challenges facing Nigeria’s judiciary. He urged his supporters to remain steadfast, promising that justice would eventually prevail in Ondo State and the nation.
This dispute highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Ondo tribunal’s ruling, with the APC insisting on the credibility of the judicial process and the PDP challenging the fairness of the verdict amid calls for transparency and accountability in the electoral system.
