Di Supreme Court of Nigeria don throway di appeal wey Agboola Ajayi from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ondo State file against di candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa from All Progressives Congress (APC).
For di judgment wey Justice Lawal Garba give, di Supreme Court talk say dem no go accept Ajayi appeal because e no file am on time and e no get di right to carry di matter go court since e no be APC member. Di court still talk say di mata na APC internal wahala, so e no concern Ajayi.
Di apex court talk say Ajayi and him people no get legal stand to push di case, so di appeal no fit hold water. Di court still confirm say di matter don expire because di action start on May 20, 2024, when dem submit di nomination form give Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but Ajayi no file di case until June 7, 2024, wey don pass di 14 days wey di law talk.
Based on dis one, di court cancel di appeal and order Ajayi make e pay ₦2 million to each of di four respondents.
Ajayi bin wan cancel di election of Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami, say him name change no correct, plus e challenge di legitimacy of Aiyedatiwa and APC. Ajayi talk say Adelami wey use “Jackson” as him middle name for secondary school later change am to “Owolabi” without correct document.
But di Supreme Court talk say no be wetin go make dem disqualify di deputy governor because name change wey dem document well no be electoral fraud or reason to disqualify person.
Ajayi first carry di case go Federal High Court for Abuja on June 7, 2024, say make dem cancel Aiyedatiwa nomination because him deputy no qualify. But after di defendants petition di court, di Chief Judge transfer di case go Akure Judicial Division.
Di Federal High Court dismiss di case for di judgment wey Justice T.B. Adegoke give on December 2, 2024. Di court talk say based on APC v Obaseki case, since Ajayi accuse di Deputy Governor of forgery, perjury, and impersonation, e suppose file di case as writ of summons.
Ajayi no gree with di judgment, so e carry di matter go Court of Appeal for Akure Division on December 13, 2024. But di three Justices – Oyebisi Omoleye, Hadiza Shagari, and Fadawu Umaru – dismiss di appeal and support di Federal High Court decision. Dem still order Ajayi to pay ₦500,000 as cost.
Ajayi bin wan cancel Aiyedatiwa victory, say Deputy Governor Adelami forge document, use false identity, and falsify papers. But di Supreme Court don finally close di matter.
