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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected the appeal initiated by the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, contesting the ruling rendered by the Federal High Court in Akure on November 24, 2025, which questioned his qualification to participate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
In a unanimous decision, a panel consisting of three members determined that the Federal High Court appropriately exercised its discretion in permitting Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, to amend his originating summons.
Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who articulated the lead judgment, indicated that Aiyedatiwa did not sufficiently demonstrate that the ruling of the trial judge resulted in injustice or infringed upon his right to a fair hearing.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal brought forth by the governor on the grounds of lack of merit and imposed costs amounting to ₦2 million against him.
Earlier, the court had also dismissed an application filed by Aiyedatiwa seeking to set aside an order made on January 27, 2026, which stayed further proceedings in the suit before the Federal High Court in Akure.
The Court of Appeal held that the January 27 order did not arrest the trial court’s judgment. Rather, it was a lawful exercise of the appellate court’s jurisdiction to protect the integrity of its proceedings.
The judiciary observed that at the juncture when the directive was issued, Aiyedatiwa’s appeal had been duly submitted, pertinent records had been assembled, and legal briefs had been lodged. It upheld that the appellate tribunal executed its responsibilities appropriately to safeguard the res and avert the potential nullification of its proceedings.
