Tribunal verdict: Aiyedatiwa extends olive branch to Ajayi, others

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has called on Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election, to join hands with his administration to move the state forward.
This followed his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Aiyedatiwa made the call in a statement yesterday in Akure, the state capital.
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure on Wednesday affirmed the victory of Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
The tribunal’s three-man panel led by Justice Benson Ogubu dismissed the petitions filed by Ajayi, challenging the outcome of the election exercise and that of the Action Alliance (AA), Allied People’s Movement (APM), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Aiyedatiwa said his success at the tribunal has proven that the court is the ‘true hope of the common man’.
He explained that the verdict of the tribunal affirmed the electoral victory that was given to the Aiyedatiwa/Adelami ticket in the last election.
“Now that the dust has settled, I appeal to my brothers who had one reason or the other to be in court, to unite with me in my strive to build an Ondo state where dreams come true.
“Teaming up with me to realise the numerous achievements inherent in Our Ease Agenda will be a patriotic thing and one that’s in the interest of the state,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa, however, noted that the “legitimacy of our leadership is huge as we won and all petitions against us fell flat’.
He appreciated his legal team led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, for their defence of petitions in the court cases.
“I specially thank the panel of judges who didn’t just dispense justice without fear or favour but also painstakingly went through the processes.
“I specifically thank the Attorney-General of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, using him as a point of contact to salute the courage of every member of my cabinet,” the governor added.