Osun LG Crisis: Why Akure Appeal Court Dismissed APC’s Request For Yes/No Chairmen

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has reportedly struck out a request by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to relist its appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the controversial October 15, 2022 local government elections in Osun State.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo had nullified the election that produced the APC council chairmen.

However, there has been a political crisis since a Court of Appeal judgement which reportedly reinstated the APC council chairmen, according to the APC, a claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always debunked.

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In a unanimous decision, Justice Peter Obiorah, who read the lead judgement on Friday, also condemned APC’s misrepresentation of its February 10, 2025 judgment.

The court reportedly clarified that it never reinstated the sacked APC chairmen, warning the party against distorting the court’s decisions for political gain.

The justices emphasized that the judiciary must not be treated as an extension of any political organization.

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“It is a case of violenti non fit injúria, they cannot complain on a self-inflicted injury. Equity aids the vigilant, and not the indolent,” the Appeal Court held.

Justice Obiorah further held that “If they knew their tenure is just three years, and they went to sleep over their Appeal against their sack for two years, it is inconceivable.”

“There are three appellants with one joint Notice of Appeal, only one party is making an application to relist. Even if that one party can come alone, what are the reasons for bringing this application?

“If the APC is sincere, as a party that has many candidates affected by the Appeal, one wonders why they went to sleep and failed to transmit records on time in accordance with the law and the rules of the court.

“I draw attention to this fact in order to show that the 3rd appellant applicant (APC) who was pursuing the sister appeal based on the same facts and similar judgement of the same Judex, Ayo Emmanuel J, cannot claim ignorance for not compiling the records of Appeal or have any credible reason for abandoning the prosecution of this Appeal that was dismissed on the 13th day of January, 2025.

“The sudden attempt to resurrect this appeal through this same court will only lead to confusion and this Court will resist such attempt to lure it to unwittingly seat on Appeal in CA/AK/270/2022. Everything in this application shows that the third appellant has not shown good cause why this application should be granted.

“The fate that has befallen them is self-inflicted. It is therefore my conclusion that this Appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly, dismissed,” the judges reportedly ruled.

Meanwhile, the Certified True Copy of the judgement has not been released.

Source: OSUN DEFENDER