BREAKING: Osun Court Orders OSIEC, Security Agencies to Conduct LG Elections

An Osun court has directed OSIEC and security agencies to proceed with local government elections, intensifying the ongoing political battle in the state.

An Osun State High Court in Osogbo has instructed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) and security agencies to move forward with the local government elections planned for Saturday.

Justice A. Aderigbigbe delivered the ruling on Friday in response to an enrollment order filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its Chairman, Hashim Abioye.

The court confirmed once again that, as previously ruled by a Federal High Court, vacancies exist in all 30 local government areas of the state.

The court established that the election overseen by the 1st Defendant on October 15, 2022, had been deemed invalid and annulled. Additionally, it was ruled that the purportedly elected officials from this questionable election were removed by a Federal High Court decision in case FHC/CS/OS/103/2022; ACTION PEOPLES PARTY (APP) VS. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) & Others on November 30, 2022. This ruling was affirmed by the Court of Appeal’s judgment in case number CA/AK/226M/2024; ALLIED PEOPLE MOVEMENT (APM) & Others VS. ACTION PEOPLES PARTY (APP) & Others delivered on January 13, 2025. As a result of these decisions, vacancies genuinely exist within the political administration of local councils statewide which led to upholding PDP’s requests in their lawsuit.

The court issued a directive requiring all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Amotekun Corps, Vigilante group, among others. These groups must ensure adequate security is provided during and after the election.

More information will be provided soon…