Court Rules Aiyedatiwa Ineligible for 2028 Election

On Thursday, a Federal High Court in Akur ruled that Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is not eligible to contest in the 2028 governorship election. The judgment, delivered by Justice Toyin Adegok, arose from a legal challenge filed by Akin Egbuwalo, a member of the Progress Congress, who sought clarification on the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution regarding term limits for elected officials in Nigeria.

The court noted that Aiyedatiwa, who assumed office on December 27, 2023, following the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, had already won a governorship election held on November 16, 2024, and was inaugurated on February 24, 2025. The court emphasized that the constitution clearly limits governors to a maximum of eight years in office, referencing the Supreme Court decision in Marwa v.

Nyako. The ruling concluded that Aiyedatiwa's claim lacked merit, thus granting the relief sought by the plaintiff.