The Osun State government reaffirmed that the looted local government officials remained excluded from their duties and dismissed the allegation that the Court of Appeals had resurrected them.
This clarification was made in response to a ruling made on Monday, February 10, 2025, and on October 15, 2022 addressed the legal process surrounding local government elections.
It also instructed the public to assure local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025 as planned and to prevent illegal attempts to retrieve the office.
In a statement available to Naija News, the government signed by Oluomo Kolapo Alimi for information and public awareness by the OSUN state commissioner for information and public awareness, and the government has not examined the disputed elections, instead the People’s Democrats (PDP) technical reasons emphasized that the case was dismissed by the PDP.
The court ruled that the PDP case was premature since it was filed before the OSUN State Independent Election Commission (OSSIEC) officially made public its election notice.
Previous court rulings on controversial elections
The statement further states that another lawsuit launched by the People’s Party of Action against Independent National Election Commission (INEC), OSSIEC and other parties (APP) has been voided on October 15, 2022. He pointed out that it led to a verdict. election.
The decision filed in case number FHC/OS/CS/103/22 declared the election unconstitutional and in violation of several provisions of the 2022 Election Act.
The Federal High Court decision issued by Judge N. Ayo Emmanuel on November 30, 2022 contained three important points.
1. The election to the LG Council of OSUN, held on October 15, 2022, was unconstitutional due to violations of the Constitution and violations of sections, in accordance with the notification of elections issued on August 2022/15/2022; It has been declared invalid, invalid, invalid 28 , 29, 32, 98 and 150 of the Election Act 2022.
2. Due to the above election, any person or individual occupying an office in the state’s local government council will be fired from holding such office.
3. Sections 25 and 26 of the OSUN State Independent Election Commission Act 2022 are enacted in violation of paragraph 12 of Part II and are the second schedule of the Constitution and are inconsistent with sections 29 and 32 of the Election Act 2022. That’s what’s surprising. .
This decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025 under appeal number CA/AK/226M/2024.
As a result, the government argued that the only legally binding ruling on local government elections was that it negated the election and dismissed council officials.
The government directs security agencies to maintain order
Following these legal clarifications, the Osun State Government has directed security agencies to remain vigilant and not to disrupt the general peace of the state.
Authorities have been instructed to arrest and prosecute anyone who attempts to illegally reoccupy local government offices.
The Head of Local Governments (HLA) has been urged to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the council’s office, and attempts to gain vigorous access to government facilities will be reported immediately to security agencies. It warns that it should.
The statement stated, “Taking into account the above position, the only valid judgment that remains today is the order of the court that has invalidated the elections made as described above.
“Therefore, it is necessary to inform the entire citizens of Osun State, especially the security operatives and local directors (HLAs) of the local government, to the various local government councils of Osun State.
“As a result, we urge security guards to arrest and prosecute anyone, regardless of what they may want to disrupt the current peace enjoyed in our dear nation.
“We likewise urge all HLAs not to let intruders and political thugs be allowed on the state’s local government premises.
“Therefore, anyone seeking to obtain entry into the council’s office should be reported to the security agency.
“Finally, we would like to use this medium to inform the citizens of Osun Province that, except for unexpected circumstances, the local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025 will proceed as planned. It’s there.”
