2028: Court ‘ll decide my eligibility, says Aiyedatiwa

2026-03-08 - 16:07

— No frosty relationship with Bunmi Tunji-Ojo —– Congress results yet to be released By Dayo Johnson Akure Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of Ondo State, has declared that his eligibility to contest the next governorship election in the state in 2028 should be left for the judiciary to decide. Recall the Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in to completed the tenure of the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, following his death in 2023 and was subsequently elected governor in the 2024 governorship election and again sworn-in in February 2025. However, arguments and counter arguments have trailed his eligibility in 2028 after being sworn-in twice and the provision of the constitution that he cannot be sworn in for a third time. However, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Dr Akin Egbuwalo, had earlier filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution regarding the eligibility of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, to contest for another term in office. The judgment was initially scheduled to be delivered on January 28 but was suspended by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure pending the determination of an appeal before the appellate court. Speaking during a media chat monitored in Akure. Aiyedatiwa, said he had not discussed with anyone or any group about running for another term, describing the suit filed against him in court as frivolous and one that should be dismissed. He questioned the interpretation of Section 182(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which stipulates that: “A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.” The governor noted that some lawyers have raised questions about the provision, asking whether completing only a few weeks or months of a tenure should be regarded as a full term. He said that “Some lawyers have argued: will you say that if someone completes just two months or a few weeks into a tenure, it should count as a full term?” “Let the judiciary decide what will happen. I have left that to the lawyers and the court to handle, especially when someone has even gone to court against me despite my constitutional immunity. “There is no expression of interest and no nomination. Therefore, how can it be turned into a pre-election matter? On what basis would anyone approach the court? Where is the cause of action in this situation? “I also have constitutional immunity. I would therefore encourage anyone concerned to focus on genuine election matters. As it stands, I have not declared for any election. “So, what nomination are we talking about? What expression of interest? Why should I be taken to court? For these reasons, that case should simply be struck out. “I understand you raised the issue because you are a lawyer and you should know better. I am not a lawyer; I only read and listen to what people say. But one thing is clear: I have not declared for any election. That remains the fact.” “An election is a process. You first of all show interest, expression of interest, there will have to be a timetable first by the party and then the electoral umpire. All the timetables that have been displayed so far, there is no governorship election from those states. “Why should I be taken to court in the first place when the constitution guarantees immunity for me? It’s only on electoral matters that you can take me to court. If I conduct an election and maybe I win the election, as you are saying it was full of substantial irregularity, you can challenge that. But the Supreme Court has ruled that on my election, I was duly elected. “I’m sworn in one month after, somebody filed a case on something that is futuristic. Where is that happening? “I’m a sitting governor that has immunity, why do you take me to court? So all of that will be decided because I have not told anybody that I’m running an election in 2028. “An election is a process. You first of all show interest, expression of interest, there will have to be a timetable first by the party and then the electoral umpire. All the timetables that have been displayed so far, there is no governorship election from those states. “So on what basis are you now taking me to court, challenging something futuristic? And then a sitting governor with immunity. “But all of this is not an issue to be even discussed right now. Some can discuss it because of their own selfish interests. Right now, because the election programme has not started, it is not a pre-election matter. I have immunity. Let the court decide what that will be.” Aiyedatiwa argued that any legal challenge regarding his eligibility to contest again could only arise when the electoral process begins. “Wait until that time when I come out that I want to run, then you can take me to court,” he said. Also, speaking on the just-concluded congresses of the APC in the state, Aiyedatiwa said they were held peacefully but their results had not yet been officially announced by the party. According to him “We had our congress at the ward level, the local government and at the state. All of that has been done, but the party will eventually release the result because that has not been announced. He denied that the congresses held across the state had further caused division within the party. Aiyedatiwa declared that the party in the state remained united adding that “APC is one in Ondo State. We are not divided. But interests differ when it comes to political positions. That is politics. The governor also denied any frosty relationship with the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Aiyedatiwa who said that speculation of a rift were the handiwork of people who are driven by political interests and personal ambitions, described the allegations as baseless and urged residents to focus on the government’s developmental agenda. According to him , I have no problem with the Minister of Interior, and I don’t think he has any with me either. In politics you cannot stop anybody from growing. It depends on your strategy and method of engagement.”