By our Reporter
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has dismissed a recent Federal High Court judgment reportedly barring him from recontesting the governorship election, describing the development as an unnecessary distraction.
Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television on Thursday, the governor said he had never declared interest in contesting another governorship election and that the narratives circulating on social media had misrepresented the situation.
According to him, there is currently no timetable for any governorship election in the state, and he has not taken any step indicating an ambition to seek another term in office.
“I have never at any time declared to anybody that I am going to contest an election. It is not yet time for any governorship election in this state. There is no timetable and I have not expressed interest in running again,” he said.
The governor explained that he did not approach the court to seek eligibility to contest any future election, noting that the case was filed by other individuals seeking clarification on his status.
Despite the court decision, Aiyedatiwa said the legal matter would not distract him from governance, stressing that his focus remained on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of the state.
He noted that the governorship election he won on November 16, 2024, was still recent and that his priority was to fulfil campaign promises.
“I want to continue working for the good people of Ondo State and ensure that I deliver on the promises made during the campaign,” he said.
The governor also addressed constitutional debates surrounding the tenure of deputies who complete the tenure of their principals, saying although he was aware of the legal provisions, he had not begun to consider any future contest.
He further denied allegations that he was pushing political opponents out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, insisting that politics thrives on numbers and that he was encouraging more people to join the party.
“It is not possible to drive people away because politics is a game of numbers. Rather, I want more people to join our party,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa also dismissed claims of a rift with the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, saying both of them remained members of the same political family.
“I do not have any issue with him and if you ask him, he will tell you the same. Politics is full of interests and sometimes you see push and pull,” he said.
The governor also rejected suggestions that recent deaths linked to an APC congress in the state were connected to internal party disputes, explaining that the incident was related to issues within the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
On the court judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Akure, Aiyedatiwa said he had yet to review the details of the ruling and would consult his lawyers before deciding whether to challenge it.
He noted that Nigeria’s judicial system provides avenues for further legal interpretation through higher courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
According to him, the case presents a constitutional issue that may ultimately require clarification from the apex court.
“This is the first time this kind of case is happening under the constitution. We must look at it carefully so that there will be an authority on the matter for the future,” he said.
