Federal Government Directs Osun State to Suspend Local Government Elections
The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to cancel the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025. This is following a recent Court of Appeal judgment that has thrown up more complexities in the state’s electoral space.
Advertisements
The Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, was on the legal issues surrounding the local government elections conducted on October 15, 2022. The judgment dismissed the originating summons filed by PDP on technical grounds, specifically on the ground that the suit was filed before the election notice was published by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
Osun State Government has clarified that the Court of Appeal did not reinstate the sacked local government officials. A statement from the state government said the judgment only dealt with preliminary issues and did not touch on the substantive issues of the 2022 elections. The government also said the Federal High Court’s earlier judgment nullifying the 2022 local government elections remains in place.
Despite the federal directive and the legal grey areas, OSSIEC Chairman Hashim Abioye has said the commission will go ahead with the elections as scheduled. In a statement, Abioye said, “There is no court order stopping the election already scheduled by the Commission to hold on 22nd February 2025”. He also said there is no court order reinstating the sacked local government officials.
APC in Osun State has said it will not participate in the forthcoming elections. The party said it would respect the Court of Appeal’s judgment and maintain the status quo regarding the local government leadership.
Adeleke has warned of plots by the opposition to destabilize the state before the elections. He listed the spread of false information and fabrication of court judgments as one of the tactics used to create confusion among the people. He has directed security agencies to be on the lookout and arrest anyone who attempts to breach the peace.
