A decision by the Federal High Court in Akure is already altering political calculations in Ondo State, after the court ruled that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot seek another term in the 2028 governorship election.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Toyin Adegoke, followed a suit filed by Akin Egbuwalo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, who asked the court to clarify whether the governor remained eligible for re-election under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

In its ruling, the court held that Aiyedatiwa’s period in office must be counted from December 27, 2023, when he was sworn in to complete the tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, before later securing victory in the November 16, 2024 governorship election and being inaugurated on February 24, 2025.

Justice Adegoke said the Constitution places a strict limit of eight years for anyone occupying the offices of president, vice-president, governor or deputy governor, adding that allowing the governor to run again in 2028 would breach that constitutional ceiling.

The court referenced the precedent established in the Marwa v. Nyako decision, which clarified that tenure limits must be strictly interpreted to prevent public officials from remaining in executive office beyond the constitutional maximum.

In addition to granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, the judge noted that submissions from some of the defendants—including the governor, his deputy Olayide Adelami and other parties—were treated as abandoned because they were not actively pursued during the proceedings.

With the ruling now setting legal boundaries on the governor’s future eligibility, political observers say parties and potential aspirants are likely to begin recalculating strategies for the 2028 governorship race, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission remains responsible for overseeing the eventual electoral process.