Hon. Ajayi Alfred Agboola, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, has formally withdrawn his appeal before the Supreme Court. In a letter dated September 16, 2025, addressed to the Chief Registrar of the apex court, Agboola acknowledged the appeal filed on his behalf against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other parties involved in the election dispute. This withdrawal marks a significant conclusion to the legal challenges surrounding the election of Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The decision to withdraw his appeal follows the earlier judgment by the Appeal Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State. The appellate court had unequivocally upheld the election of Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the November 16, 2024, governorship election conducted by INEC. A panel of judges, comprising Justice Nimpar Yargata, Justice K.I. Amadi, and Justice I.M. Sani, delivered a unanimous judgment. They struck out the appeals brought forward by the PDP, its candidate Ajayi, and other political parties, on the grounds that they failed to substantiate their claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The justices emphasized that the appellants could not demonstrate how their allegations affected the election results across the various polling units, wards, and local government areas where the election took place.

This legal process began even earlier, with the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal having affirmed the election of the APC candidate on June 4, 2025. Dissatisfied with the Tribunal's judgment, the PDP, alongside the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Social Development Party (SDP), subsequently filed appeals against the ruling, collectively seeking the invalidation of the governorship election results. However, with Agboola's withdrawal, the highest court will no longer hear his challenge.

Explaining his decision, Agboola stated that he engaged in “thoughtful discussions with family, party members, associates, and legal advisers.” After these careful deliberations, he resolved to discontinue the case at the Supreme Court. This consensus-driven decision reflects a considered approach to the protracted legal battle.

In his personal statement regarding the withdrawal, Agboola affirmed: “As the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, I have engaged in thoughtful discussions with my family, party members, associates, and legal advisors. After careful deliberation, we have reached a consensus that the appeal should be withdrawn, and I’m by this letter, so do.” He further expressed his overarching commitment to the state’s well-being: “Having served as the former deputy governor and as a representative of my constituents at the national level, my foremost commitment is to the principles of good governance and the promotion of peaceful coexistence in Ondo State and across Nigeria. In this spirit, I extend my heartfelt wishes to His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as he leads our state, and I remain dedicated to contributing positively to the State and National development.”