Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court, Akure, on Thursday stopped the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, from vying for another term in office.
The judge ruled that allowing the governor to contest again would go contrary to the provision of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Adegoke, in her judgment, said the constitution does not permit an elected president, vice president, governor, or deputy governor to remain in office for more than eight years.
She declared that if Aiyedatiwa was allowed to contest and win another term, he would exceed the maximum constitutional limit.
“If the third defendant(Aiyedatiwa) is allowed to contest and serve another four years, that will be against the position of the law as established in Marwa versus Nyako, where the Supreme Court held that a president or governor cannot serve beyond eight years,” she declared.
Aiyedatiwa became governor on December 27, 2023 after the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose tenure he completed.
Aiyedatiwa was later inaugurated on February 24, 2025, after he won the November 16, 2024 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A member of f APC, Mr. Akin Egbuwalo, challenged the governor’s eligibility to contest another term in office in a suit files through his counsel, Mr Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).
He asked the court to interpret Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution as it relates to the eligibility of Aiyedatiwa to seek re-election.
He listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) Aiyedatiwa, APC, and the deputy governor, Mr Olayide Adelami as respondents in the suit.
