The Osun State Independent Commission (OSSIEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the local government election scheduled for February 22,”stating that no court order prevents the poll from holding.
Addressing journalists at the commission’s headquarters on Monday, OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Akintunde Abioye, Esq., said the Court of Appeal had struck out a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the 2022 local government election in the state.
According to him, the appellate court ruled that the PDP’s suit was premature, as it was filed before OSSIEC issued its notice of election. He explained that although the PDP later amended its case to reflect developments, the Federal High Court in Osogbo eventually nullified the 2022 election on November 25, 2022, removing the elected officials.
Abioye further noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates appealed the Federal High Court’s ruling, but the Court of Appeal struck out the suit on Monday, describing it as speculative.
Additionally, he referenced another case, APP v. INEC & ORS, where the Federal High Court nullified the 2022 election on November 30, 2022, and dismissed the purported elected officials. Although the APC, Allied People’s Movement (APM), and another party initially appealed the ruling, they later abandoned the case, leading to its dismissal by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.
The OSSIEC chairman clarified that no court order has reinstated the sacked APC officials or prevented the forthcoming local government election.
“In specific terms, the 30 local government areas in Osun State remain vacant, as both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have upheld decisions against the APC and its candidates,” he stated.
Abioye urged political parties to continue their campaigns peacefully and assured the public that all preparations for the February 22 election were in place.
“We urge the public to remain calm and all political parties to go about their peaceful campaigns as we countdown to the election. All is set for the poll to hold as scheduled,” he said.
