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Supreme Court Upholds Mimiko’s Election …As NGF Hails Action
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the election of Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) as governor of Ondo State.
A panel of seven Justices, presided by Justice Sylvester Nguta held that the appeal filed against Mimiko’s re-election was unsustainable.
Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenged the July 2 decision of the Appeal Court which upheld the October 20, 2012 re-election of Mimiko of the Labour party (LP).
Nguta held that the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal Court on the matter was apt, adding that the apex court would not upturn an appellate decision which was given according to evidence brought before it.
According to Nguta, the appellant did not sufficiently prove his plethora of allegations against the conduct of the election.
“The appellant failed to prove the allegations of substantial non-compliance of the 2012 election with Electoral Act 2010 as amended beyond reasonable doubt.
“The appellant also failed to provide cogent evidence of the voter register he claimed was manipulated just as he was unable to prove allegations of fraud, irregularities and violent disruption of the election.
“In the circumstance, the appeal fails and it is therefore dismissed; the decision of the Akure Division of the Appeal court on the matter is thereby upheld,’’ he said.
Akeredolu claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conspired with Mimiko to illegally inject about 90,000 fake voters in the voter register used for the election.
He further alleged that INEC failed to display the voter register before the election as mandated by the Electoral Act.
According to him, the election ought not to have been held as the processes leading to casting of votes were fraudulent.
The INEC returning officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Adebiyi Daramola announced Mimiko to have won the election with 260,199 votes from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
However, Daramola announced that ACN’s candidate, Akeredolu polled a total of 143,512 votes.
Nguta further held that it was not proved how the allegation of injection of over 90,000 voters in the voter register affected the final outcome of the election.
In a similar judgment, Justice Mary Peter-Odili delivering judgment in a similar appeal filed by Olusola Oke of PDP held that the appeal lacked merit.
She said the allegation against the conduct of election required to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, adding that “neither Oke nor his party did the needful to warrant the granting of any of the prayers.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the appellate court, Oke had approached the Supreme Court for what he called “further and better interpretation of the issues raised’’.
He had sought the apex court to declare whether the decision of the lower court to overlook the allegation of the manipulation of the voter register was right.
Oke in his appeal prayed the court to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal and declare him winner of the election.
In the alternative, the PDP candidate sought a fresh conduct of the election.
Our correspondent reports that the INEC returning officer said Oke scored a total of 155,961 votes thereby placing him in third position of the log.
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, Mimiko expressed delight on the outcome of the challenge, saying, “the stage is now set for us to serve the people’’.
“I owe the victory to God, all my supporters, the party, and of course all my well wishers; the distraction is over so I can now settle down to work,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on the Supreme Court judgment that upheld his election.
Director-General of the forum, Mr Asishana Okauru, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, described the judgment as “land mark and a plus to the Nigerian judiciary”.
“The judgment in this case shows that the Nigerian judiciary has indeed come of age,’’ he said.
He praised Mimiko for standing firm and for remaining undaunted while the case lasted.
The director-general also thanked the people of the state for their understanding and support during the case.
Okauru, however, advised the governor to remain committed to the cause of ensuring the delivery of true democratic dividends to the people of the state.
He described governors as critical pillars and vital channels for the delivery of dividends of democracy to the electorate and urged them to remain so at all times.
The NGF called on the Supreme Court “to remain steadfast in anticipation of several other pre-election and post-election cases as we move towards 2015’’.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Mimiko is the Vice Chairman of the Governor Jonah Jang faction of NGF.
The seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Walter Onoghene, yesterday ruled in favour of Governor Mimiko and declared him the elected governor of the state.
The panel had ruled on the election petitions filed by Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of the former Action Congress of Nigeria and Olushola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party.
Akerodolu and Oke were both candidates of their parties in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election that brought Mimiko to office.
The two appellants had asked the court to nullify Mimiko‘s election and order a fresh election.
They alleged that the election that brought Mimiko to office was marred by irregularities and corruption in the compilation of the voters’ register.
They also accused the Labour Party (LP) of conniving with INEC to inflate the voters’ register used for the election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from last Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
This comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
The Tide reports that the council elections were held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, across all six FCT area councils, including Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
Results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari Area Councils, while the PDP secured victory only in Gwagwalada.
In a statement issued yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party congratulated its candidates, who emerged winners in the chairmanship and councilor elections.
The opposition party acknowledged the victories, noting that the number of wins was lower than expected but significant given the alleged irregularities during the polls.
“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage,” the statement read.
Ememobong claimed that there are reports and video evidence indicating voter intimidation and unlawful conduct that influenced the outcome of the elections.
“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections.”
To address complaints and litigations arising from the polls, he said the party has set up a legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq.
The statement urged candidates with legitimate grievances to contact the Legal Adviser promptly, as delays could jeopardise their chances in election petition cases.
“The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in the electoral outcomes from elections conducted under this Act.
“These Local Council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made,” the statement added.
The PDP called on the National Assembly and the President to take corrective action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will on Wednesday swear in Justice Joseph Oyewole as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The ceremony is scheduled to be held at 2pm at Courtroom Two of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.
The court urged guests to adhere strictly to the court’s protocols and security measures.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Festus Akande.
The court described Oyewole’s appointment as a step towards reinforcing the capacity of the apex court to deliver fair and timely judgments.
Recall that Oyewole was, until his elevation, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division, and joins the apex court bench as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the judiciary.
The National Judicial Council recommended Oyewole for the position alongside 35 others for various judicial offices, following its 110th meeting held on January 13, 2026, and presided over by Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The statement partly read, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, will on Wednesday, 25th February, 2026, preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA.”
According to the statement, Oyewole served with distinction at the Court of Appeal and as Presiding Justice of the Enugu Division prior to his elevation.
“His appointment underscores the commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to upholding the rule of law, ensuring justice, and strengthening the bench with experienced and dedicated jurists. He brings a wealth of legal expertise and integrity to the apex court to further enhance its capacity to deliver fair and timely judgments,” the statement added.
The apex court further described the swearing-in as “another significant step in rejuvenating the judiciary and ensuring the continued delivery of justice in line with the highest standards of integrity, competence, and impartiality.”
The Supreme Court reiterated its commitment to justice, fairness and judicial independence for the benefit of Nigerians.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden passage of Senator Barinada Mpigi, the Senator representing South East Senatorial District of Rivers State.
In a tribute to mourn the deceased, Governor Fubara described Mpigi as a brother, a consummate politician and one of the leading lights in Rivers State.
He said that Mpigi died at a critical time when his services were still needed by the people of Rivers State and prayed God Almighty to grant him eternal rest.
The governor commiserated with his immediate family, the Rivers South East Senatorial District and the Senate at large, asking them to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a good life and impacted positively on the people.
Senator Mpigi died at the age of 64. Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works.
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