The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has reaffirmed that the Local Government election will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
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Speaking on Monday at the OSSIEC headquarters in Osogbo, Abioye dismissed claims of any legal barriers to the planned election. He clarified that no court order exists to reinstate previously sacked local government officials or to halt the upcoming polls.
“There is no order of any court stopping the conduct of the election already scheduled by the Commission to hold on 22nd February 2025,” Abioye stated.
He emphasized that all 30 Local Government Areas in Osun State remain vacant, making the election necessary to fill the positions. He assured the public of the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election, urging political parties to continue their campaigns peacefully.
Abioye also addressed the recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the disputed 2022 Osun State local government election.
According to him, the court struck out the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election because the case was filed before OSSIEC issued the official notice of the election.
“The Appellate Court reasoned that the suit was filed before the Notice of Election was issued by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC). It must be noted that it was during the pendency of the said suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) Law 2022 was enacted and the notice of election was issued,” he explained.
He further noted that the Federal High Court had previously nullified the 2022 election and sacked the APC-backed officials. Though the affected party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed the decision, the Court of Appeal struck out the suit, labeling it speculative.
Additionally, he referenced another case in which the Federal High Court, in Suit No.: APP v. INEC & ORS, delivered a judgment on November 30, 2022, nullifying the election and removing the APC-backed officials from office. The APC and other parties later abandoned their appeal, leading to its dismissal by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.
Abioye reiterated that, as it stands, there is no legal restriction preventing OSSIEC from proceeding with the scheduled election.
“To this effect, there is no order returning any purported elected officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to office. In particular, there is no order of any court stopping the conduct of the election already scheduled by the Commission to hold on 22nd February 2025,” he affirmed.
With this declaration, OSSIEC is moving forward with preparations for the local government election, setting the stage for political parties and candidates to contest for leadership positions in Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas.
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