A Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the eligibility of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, for the 2024 governorship election.
The case was brought forward by Olugbenga Edema, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate, who wanted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Aiyedatiwa’s nomination and exclude his name from the ballot.
Edema, formerly a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had left the party after losing in the primaries and later joined the NNPP.
He argued that Aiyedatiwa’s nomination was not legitimate and sought the court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions regarding candidate selection.
However, the NNPP, which was listed as a plaintiff alongside Edema, later withdrew from the case.
During the hearing, Edema’s lawyer, Soladoye Ekundayo, informed the court that he had filed an appeal against the ruling that removed NNPP from the lawsuit.
He requested an adjournment to amend his case, but the defense team, representing Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, INEC, and APC, opposed the request.
The defence lawyers urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that there was no valid reason for a delay.
Presiding over the case, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke ruled that filing an appeal did not automatically halt court proceedings.
She also noted that the plaintiff failed to follow the court’s directive to amend the suit, describing the delay as intentional.
As a result, the court dismissed the case and imposed a fine of N100,000 on the plaintiff.
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