- Federal High Court rules Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot contest 2028 election
- Court says contesting again would violate constitutional tenure limit
- Case filed by APC member Akin Egbuwalo
- Defendants include INEC, AGF, APC, and deputy governor
The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has ruled that Lucky Aiyedatiwa is not eligible to contest the 2028 Ondo State governorship election, citing constitutional limits on tenure.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Toyin Adegoke held that allowing Aiyedatiwa to seek re-election in 2028 would violate the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the maximum tenure allowed for elected executives.
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The suit was filed by Akin Egbuwalo, a member of the All Progressives Congress.
Through his counsel Adeniyi Akintola, Egbuwalo asked the court to interpret Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution in relation to Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to contest another governorship election in 2028.
The defendants in the case included the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the APC, and the Ondo State Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami.
In her ruling, Justice Adegoke emphasised that the Nigerian constitution clearly limits elected officials such as presidents, vice-presidents, governors, and deputy governors to a maximum of eight years in office.
The judge also stated that the legal processes filed by the third to fifth defendants were considered abandoned, as they failed to participate in the hearing of the case.
According to the court, only the arguments presented by the plaintiff, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were considered before the final judgment was delivered.
The ruling may have significant implications for the political future of Governor Aiyedatiwa and the leadership landscape in Ondo State ahead of future elections.
