A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed a suit challenging the qualification of Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, both candidates of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16 governorship election.

Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke, while delivering judgment, declared that the suit filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon Agboola Ajayi, lacked locus standi. The court also held that the case was statute-barred and that it lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

“The plaintiffs lack the locus standi to file the suit or seek the reliefs set out in the originating summons,” Justice Adegoke said.

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Ajayi had challenged the eligibility of Adelami to contest as the Deputy governorship candidate, citing discrepancies in his names. However, Adelami’s counsel, Dr. Remi Olatubora, argued that the issue was not about discrepancies in the name but the order or arrangements of the names.

“The grievance of the plaintiffs is not about discrepancies in the name but the order or arrangements of the names,” Olatubora said.

The court’s decision was in line with the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulates that only aspirants who participated in the primary election can challenge the qualification of candidates.

“The fact that PDP and Ajayi are not aspirants in the APC primary that produced Aiyedatiwa and Adelami as candidates rubbed them off any legal right to challenge their qualifications,” Justice Adegoke said.
With this dismissal, Aiyedatiwa and Adelami’s qualification for the governorship election has been upheld.