The Federal High Court in Akure has ruled that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is ineligible to contest the 2028 Ondo governorship election.
The decision follows a suit filed by APC chieftain Dr Akin Egbuwalo seeking clarification on Section 137(3) of the Constitution regarding term limits.
Justice Toyin Adegoke explained that Aiyedatiwa, first sworn in on December 27, 2023, to complete the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s tenure, and subsequently inaugurated in February 2025 after winning the November 2024 election, cannot serve beyond the constitutionally allowed eight years.
The ruling cited the Supreme Court’s Marwa v. Nyako decision, which bars any president or governor from exceeding two terms or eight years in office.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed Aiyedatiwa’s appeal on March 9, 2026, affirming that the Federal High Court acted correctly.
The governor may still consider further appeal following this landmark judgment.
