The Court of Appeal, Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Governor of Ondo State, challenging a November 24, 2025 ruling by the Federal High Court, Akure that questioned his eligibility to contest the next governorship election. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel upheld the trial court’s discretion in allowing the plaintiff, Akindele Egbuwalo, to amend his originating summons.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam stated that Governor Aiyedatiwa failed to demonstrate that the trial judge’s decision caused him any injustice or denied him a fair hearing. Consequently, the appellate court dismissed the governor’s appeal for lacking merit and awarded ₦2 million in costs against him.
The court also rejected an earlier application by Aiyedatiwa seeking to set aside a January 27, 2026 order that stayed further proceedings in the suit before the Federal High Court. The panel clarified that the order was a lawful exercise of the appellate court’s jurisdiction aimed at preserving the integrity of its proceedings, noting that by the time the order was made, the appeal had already been entered, records compiled, and briefs filed. The court emphasized that setting aside its own valid order would effectively mean sitting on appeal over its previous decision, and advised that the governor’s next recourse would be to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In addition to dismissing the application, the court imposed ₦1 million in costs against Governor Aiyedatiwa for seeking to overturn the January 27 order, reaffirming the appellate court’s commitment to upholding judicial procedure and maintaining the authority of its rulings.
