The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, Chief Ajayi Alfred Agboola, has withdrawn his appeal before the Supreme Court, effectively bringing to an end his legal battle against Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Agboola, a former deputy governor of the state, announced his decision in a letter addressed to the Chief Registrar of the apex court, saying the move followed wide consultations with his family, political associates, party stakeholders and legal team.
“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 After careful deliberation, we reached a consensus that the appeal should be withdrawn, and by this letter, I so do,” Agboola wrote.
The PDP candidate, who had challenged the eligibility of Deputy Governor Olayide Owolabi Adelami and the validity of Aiyedatiwa’s election, extended his congratulations to the governor and pledged to support his administration.
“Having served as former deputy governor and as a representative of my constituents at the national level, my foremost commitment remains to the principles of good governance and peaceful coexistence. 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,” he added.
In March, the Supreme Court had dismissed Agboola’s appeal, ruling that it was statute-barred and that the appellants lacked the legal standing to institute the case.
The court also ordered Agboola to pay N2 million each to four respondents in the suit.
The PDP candidate’s main contention was that Adelami previously bore “Jackson” as his middle name in secondary school before changing it to “Owolabi” without proper documentation.
The apex court, however, held that properly documented name changes do not amount to electoral fraud or grounds for disqualification.
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