Court docket will resolve my 2028 transfer — Aiyedatiwa

The Ondo State Governor, Mr Fortunate Aiyedatiwa, has addressed the controversy surrounding the constitutional place on his eligibility to contest for a second time period within the 2028 governorship election within the state.

Aiyedatiwa was first sworn in as governor in December 2023 following the dying of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

He was sworn in once more in February 2025 after profitable the state governorship election.

Nevertheless, there have been arguments that constitutionally he can’t be sworn in for a 3rd time.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress within the state, Dr Akin Egbuwalo, had earlier filed a swimsuit on the Federal Excessive Court docket in search of the interpretation of Part 137(3) of the Structure relating to the eligibility of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, to contest for one more time period in workplace.

The judgment was initially scheduled to be delivered on January 28.

Nevertheless, earlier than the decrease court docket may ship its judgment, the Court docket of Appeal sitting in Akure suspended the ruling pending the dedication of an attraction earlier than the appellate court docket.

Talking with chosen broadcast media homes on Friday evening on the Authorities Home in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa mentioned he would await the court docket’s verdict on the matter when the time comes.

He mentioned, “Why ought to I be taken to court docket within the first place when the structure ensures immunity for me? It’s solely on electoral issues that you would be able to take me to court docket. If I conduct an election and possibly I win the election, as you’re saying it was full of considerable irregularity, you possibly can problem that. However the Supreme Court docket has dominated that on my election, I used to be duly elected.

“I’m sworn in a single month after, any individual filed a case on one thing that’s futuristic. The place is that taking place?

“I’m a sitting governor that has immunity, why do you’re taking me to court docket? So all of that shall be determined as a result of I’ve not advised anyone that I’m working an election in 2028.

“An election is a course of. You to begin with present curiosity, expression of curiosity, there must be a timetable first by the social gathering after which the electoral umpire. All of the timetables which have been displayed thus far, there is no such thing as a governorship election from these states.

“So on what foundation are you now taking me to court docket, difficult one thing futuristic? After which a sitting governor with immunity.

“However all of this isn’t a difficulty to be even mentioned proper now. Some can talk about it due to their very own egocentric pursuits. Proper now, as a result of the election programme has not began, it’s not a pre-election matter. I’ve immunity. Let the court docket resolve what that shall be.”

Aiyedatiwa argued that any authorized problem relating to his eligibility to contest once more may solely come up when the electoral course of begins.

“Wait till that point once I come out that I wish to run, then you possibly can take me to court docket,” he mentioned.

On the just-concluded congresses of the APC within the state, the governor mentioned they have been held peacefully however their outcomes had not but been formally introduced by the social gathering.

“We had our congress on the ward degree, the native authorities and on the state. All of that has been accomplished, however the social gathering will ultimately launch the end result as a result of that has not been introduced,” he mentioned.

Refuting reviews in some quarters that the congresses had additional induced division throughout the social gathering, Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated that the APC within the state remained united regardless of grievances amongst members.

“APC is one in Ondo State. We’re not divided. However pursuits differ in relation to political positions. That’s politics,” he declared.