Court will decide my 2028 move — Aiyedatiwa

The Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his eligibility to contest for a second full term in the 2028 governorship election, insisting that the courts will ultimately decide the matter.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who first assumed office in December 2023 following the death of former governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was sworn in again in February 2025 after emerging victorious in the state governorship election. His return to office, however, has sparked debate about whether he is constitutionally allowed to contest for another term in 2028.

The controversy centers on interpretations of Section 137(3) of the Nigerian Constitution. A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Akin Egbuwalo, filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking clarification on the eligibility of Governor Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, to contest for a second term.

The Federal High Court initially scheduled a judgment on January 28, but before a verdict could be delivered, the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure intervened to suspend the ruling pending the determination of an appeal at the appellate level.

Speaking to selected broadcast media houses on Friday night at the Government House, Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized that he would await the court’s verdict rather than preemptively comment on his 2028 political plans.

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He questioned why legal challenges were being raised prematurely, stating that the constitution guarantees immunity for a sitting governor. According to Aiyedatiwa, electoral disputes can only arise after the formal conduct of an election. He said:

“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.”

The governor noted that any case questioning his eligibility to contest a future election is “futuristic” and therefore premature:

“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.”

Aiyedatiwa stressed that the election process has not yet begun, and until there is an official expression of interest, party timetable, or electoral schedule, discussions about his 2028 candidacy are speculative:

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“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.”

The governor further clarified that any legal challenge regarding his eligibility would only become relevant once he officially declares interest in the election. He said:

“Wait until that time when I come out that I want to run, then you can take me to court.”

On the recently concluded congresses of the APC in Ondo State, Governor Aiyedatiwa described them as peaceful exercises, though he noted that official results have yet to be announced by the party.

“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 said.

Responding to claims that the congresses caused division within the party, the governor refuted such reports and emphasized that the APC in Ondo State remains united. He acknowledged that political interests naturally differ, but maintained that these differences do not amount to disunity:

“APC is one in Ondo State. We are not divided. But interests differ when it comes to political positions. That is politics,” he declared.

Governor Aiyedatiwa’s comments underscore the complexity of pre-election legal debates in Nigeria, highlighting the balance between constitutional immunity for sitting governors and the need for judicial clarity on electoral eligibility.

Zilla Naija will continue to monitor the developments surrounding the 2028 governorship race in Ondo State and provide updates as the courts, political actors, and party structures make further moves.