OSSIEC Reacts To Court Of Appeal Ruling On 2022 LG Election

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has filed a stay of execution and injunction pending appeals after an Akire Appeal Court gave ruling in favor of all sacked local government chairmen and councillors elected under All Progressives Congress, APC.

Blaze Newz recalls that the sacked chairmen and councillors where purportedly elected under Yes/No process in October 15 2022 after former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC lost his bid for second term in office.

The election was not into the 30 recognized local council areas alone but also 32 local council development areas, and seven area offices in the state.

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A federal high court sitting in Osogbo listened to arguments of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, and other political parties that boycotted the election, nullified the election and order the council chairmen and councillors should be sacked.

Reacting to the appeal court judgement OSSIEC boss, Hashim Abioye, said “It must be noted that it was during the pendency of the said suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) Law 2022 was enacted and the notice of election was issued.

“The Claimant in the case amended the originating summons to bring the suit in line with the developments which occurred during the pendency of the suit.

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

“The affected political party All Progressive Congress (APC) and their purported candidates for the election appealed the judgment, and today the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment in the appeal striking out the suit for being speculative. No more to that at the Court of Appeal.

He also maintained that no court order is stopping them from conducting the February 22 local council election.

According to the OSSIEC boss in a press statement “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.”