The Federal High Court in Akure has dismissed a suit by Agboola Ajayi, the PDP candidate in the November 2024 Ondo governorship election, seeking to disqualify APC’s deputy governor-elect, Olayide Adelami. Ajayi had challenged Adelami’s eligibility, citing alleged name discrepancies in documents submitted to INEC.
Justice Toyin Adegoke ruled that the PDP and Ajayi lacked the legal standing to file the case, as they were not participants in APC’s primaries. The judge also noted that the case was filed beyond the 14-day window stipulated by the Electoral Act and that the claims required criminal evidence, which the plaintiffs failed to present.
The court concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, as it was filed incorrectly under an originating summons instead of a writ.