Osun Court Orders OSIEC to Proceed with LG Election Amid Legal Tussle
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
The ruling comes amid controversy surrounding the election. On February 10, the Court of Appeal reinstated council executives elected in October 2022 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading the party to challenge OSIEC’s decision to conduct fresh polls. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also urged Governor Ademola Adeleke and OSIEC to halt the election, calling it illegal due to the Appeal Court’s ruling.
However, Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe granted a Motion on Notice filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye, declaring all 30 local government seats vacant. He based his ruling on an earlier Federal High Court judgment that nullified the 2022 LG elections.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing, mandating, and compelling the Defendants to fill the vacancies across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State through a democratic process by proceeding to conduct the local government elections already scheduled by the Defendants for 22nd of February 2025.”
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The court also ordered security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, Amotekun Corps, and vigilante groups, to provide security and maintain order before, during, and after the election.
Justice Aderibigbe stated, “I have carefully perused the two judgments, and I agree with the position of the claimant’s counsel that there does not impede the election fixed by the defendant for Saturday, 22/02/2025.”
With this ruling, OSIEC is set to go ahead with the elections despite legal disputes, intensifying the political tension in Osun State.
