LG Election Holds Next Week In Osun Despite Court Of Appeal Ruling – Chairman OSSIEC

By Ayodele Oni

Following a ruling by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo state that the local government election conducted by the immediate past administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola was fully held, Osun state Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC) has vowed to go ahead with another council poll as scheduled.

The election has been scheduled to hold on February 22.

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday struck out the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the conduct of Osun State local government election in 2022.

The Appellate Court ruled that the suit was speculative and filed before the Notice of election was issued by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

The Federal High Court had delivered its judgment in the suit on the 25th November, 2022, nullifying the election and sacking the purported elected officials.

Reacting to the judgement, Hashim Akintunde Abioye, Chairman,

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, told journalists in Osogbo that the council poll will still hold despite the Court of Appeal order.

“To this effect, there is no order returning any purported elected officials of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to office as there is no Order of any Court reinstating them to office.

“In particular, there is no Order of any Court stopping the conduct of the election already scheduled by the Commission to hold on 22nd February, 2025.

“In specific terms, the thirty (30) Local Government Areas in Osun State remain vacant till date as there is a substituting decision of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal against the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its purported candidates.

“Towards this end, I urge the public to remain calm and all political parties to go about their peaceful campaigns as we countdown to the D-day, that is 22nd February, 2025. All is set for the election to hold.”