Ondo Ballot: PDP Candidate Heads To Appeal Court docket

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the November governorship election in Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi on Tuesday rejected the judgment of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Ajayi, consequently vowed to problem the ruling on the Court docket of Appeal.

The tribunal, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital had on Wednesday June 4, 2025, upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate (APC) and the governor of the state, Hon. Fortunate Aiyedatiwa, dismissing the PDP’s petition for lack of adequate proof.

In an unanimous judgment, the three-member panel comprising Justice Imelda Etiape, Justice Daurabu Sikkam and Justice Benson Ogubu, dismissed the petitions filed towards the victory of the Governor, his Deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, All Progressives Congress (APC), and Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC).

Within the judgement delivered in a capacity-filled court docket, the justices held that the petitions had been nugatory and unmeritorious and had been accordingly dismissed.

Led by Justice Benson Ogubu, the tribunal dominated that the petitions had been incompetent, lacked advantage, not diligent and frivolous.

Nevertheless, the PDP candidate, in a press release issued on Tuesday and made accessible to journalists in Akure, stated the ruling of the Tribunal didn’t accord correct evaluation to particulars of the evidences and reveals submitted to it.

In line with him, “Due cognisance and rapt consideration has been accorded to the kernel on which the Honourable Justices based mostly their findings and conclusion, which in our opinion didn’t accorded correct evaluation to particulars of the evidences and reveals submitted to Tribunal whereas it sat.”

Ajayi additional acknowledged that, “To say the very least, we really feel disillusioned that we didn’t get justice at that degree, however we stay undeterred and undiscouraged in our search to make sure that justice shouldn’t be solely served on this matter, but in addition make sure that honesty begins to prevail in our election course of.’

“Subsequently, we restate our conclusion to vitiate our rights and wishes in the direction of advancing our dedication to the authorized course of by interesting the judgement of the Tribunal on the Court docket of Appeal.

“This we do regardless of the apparent challenges that the Judiciary faces in Nigeria at this explicit interval; together with prevailing views that recommend the unportability of justice in our nation, we stay irrevocably dedicated to leaving no stone unturned in getting justice on this matter, as a result of legal guidelines, notably electoral legal guidelines are not any mere decorations, however meant to be obeyed at each price, or else our democracy stays a mere mockery, completely unworthy of celebration as it’s earmarked to be celebrated on June twelfth,” Ajayi stated.

He, nevertheless, urged his occasion members and supporters “to not be weary, even regardless of the truth that APC got here to the Court docket on judgement day final week in a celebratory temper indicative of a previous data of the decision to be delivered, justice shall reign in our State and Nation. The battle for justice definitely continues.”