A Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ruled that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is not constitutionally eligible to seek another term in office in 2028, citing provisions in the 1999 Constitution that limit how long a governor can serve.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a judgement delivered on Thursday, the court explained that the constitution does not allow a person who has been sworn in to complete the tenure of a former Governor and then elected in their own right to serve beyond the permitted limit.
Aiyedatiwa was first sworn in on December 27, 2024, after the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and later again on February 24, 2025, following his victory in the November 2024 governorship election.
The suit was filed by a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, who asked the court to interpret the section of the constitution that defines eligibility conditions for re‑election.
The plaintiff argued that Aiyedatiwa, having taken two oaths of office, has effectively already served a full term under constitutional interpretation and is therefore barred from a further term in 2028.
The court’s decision means Aiyedatiwa cannot contest 2028 governorship election unless the ruling is overturned on appeal, a possibility his legal team may pursue.
Aiyedatiwa has previously dismissed claims about his re‑election ambitions as premature and unrelated to the ongoing legal matters, even as the court’s restriction took effect.
