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NO GOING BACK ON LOCAL GOVT ELECTION – OSUN GOV ADELEKE
The Osun State government has reaffirmed that the local government elections will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, February 22, despite the All Progressives Congress (APC) withdrawing from the polls.
Speaking on Thursday, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed that all arrangements for the elections had been finalised.
“The election will go ahead as planned. Plans have been made already, and all is set,” Rasheed stated.
He also maintained that the state remains peaceful and that the government will respect judicial rulings regarding the post-election status of local government offices.
“The governor is a law-abiding man, and Osun is a law-abiding state. We will honour judicial pronouncements, but when we get to that stage, we will cross it,” he added.
The APC had earlier announced its withdrawal from the election, citing a February 10 Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated its previously elected local government chairmen and councillors.
In a statement signed by APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), the party argued that the judgment rendered the election unnecessary.
“By the judgment, the elected officers have resumed offices as allowed by the Appeal Court,” the APC stated.
“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment is that the seats are no longer vacant. In view of this, APC and all its candidates withdraw from the local government election, as it has become unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful.”
However, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disputed the APC’s interpretation of the court ruling, maintaining that it did not reinstate the party’s local government officials.
As tensions remain high, the elections are set to proceed, with the fate of local government leadership likely to be determined in court.
