The court stopped Aiyedatiwa from running for another term

Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court, Akure, on Thursday stopped Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, from running for another term.

The judge ruled that allowing the governor to run again would be contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Adegoke, in his judgment, said the constitution does not permit an elected president, vice president, governor or lieutenant governor to remain in office for more than eight years.

He stated that if Aiyedatiwa were allowed to run for and win another term, he would exceed the constitutional maximum.

“If the third defendant (Aiyedatiwa) is allowed to run and serve another four years, then this is contrary to the provisions of the Marwa versus Nyako law, where the Supreme Court decided that a president or governor cannot serve more than eight years,” he said.

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Aiyedatiwa became governor on December 27, 2023 following the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu whose term of office ended.

Aiyedatiwa was then inaugurated on February 24, 2025, after he won the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A member of f APC, Mr Akin Egbuwalo, challenged the governor’s eligibility to seek another term in office in a lawsuit filed through his lawyer, Mr Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).

He asked the court to interpret Article 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution in relation to Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to run for 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.