By Ayomide Otitoju
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State, challenging a November 24, 2025, ruling by the Federal High Court in Akure that questioned his eligibility to contest the state’s next governorship election.
In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel held that the trial court rightly exercised its discretion in granting Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, leave to amend his originating summons.
Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, said Aiyedatiwa failed to prove that the trial judge’s decision caused him any injustice or denied him the right to a fair hearing.
The appellate court dismissed the governor’s appeal for lacking merit and awarded ₦2 million in costs against him.
Earlier, the court had also rejected an application by Aiyedatiwa seeking to set aside a January 27, 2026, order that stayed further proceedings in the case before the Federal High Court in Akure. The appellate court held that the stay order was a lawful exercise of its jurisdiction to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and did not nullify the trial court’s judgment.
The court noted that by the time the order was made, Aiyedatiwa’s appeal had already been filed, records compiled, and briefs submitted. It added that requesting the court to set aside its own valid order would amount to sitting on appeal over its own decision, emphasizing that Aiyedatiwa’s proper recourse was to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The appellate court further awarded ₦1 million in costs against the governor for the application to set aside the order.
