An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has mandated the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
In a ruling delivered by Justice A. Aderigbigbe on Friday, the court upheld the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its Chairman, Hashim Abioye, affirming that vacancies exist across the 30 local government areas in the state.
The court referenced previous rulings, including the Federal High Court judgment in suit FHC/CS/OS/103/2022 (Action Peoples Party vs. INEC & Others) delivered on November 30, 2022, which nullified the local government election conducted on October 15, 2022.
This decision was further affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/226M/2024 (Allied Peoples Movement vs. Action Peoples Party & Others) delivered on January 13, 2025, confirming that there was no legally constituted leadership at the local government level.
Justice Aderigbigbe, therefore, ruled that OSIEC must conduct the election as scheduled, granting PDP’s request for the enforcement of its electoral rights.
The court also directed security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups, to ensure adequate security before, during, and after the election.
“The security of lives and property must be guaranteed throughout the electoral process,” the court ruled.
