Following the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo nullifying the Osun State local government elections conducted by Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on 15th October, the electoral body has withdrawn the Certificate of Returns issued to the winners of the elections.
The commission in a statement issued by the executive secretary of OSIEC, Adedapo Ayodeji Adejumo, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday also stated that the commission would not appeal the judgement of the court.
The statement read: “Consequent upon the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in the case FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 involving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Vs the Independent National Electoral Commission and six others, delivered on Friday 25th November, 2022 which nullified the local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on the 15th October, 2022, the commission hereby announces its decision not to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo.”
“The decision of the commission is coming against the backdrop of OSIEC’s failure to follow strictly the provisions of section 24 of OSIEC Law, 2022 and Section 28 of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandate the commission to give a notice of 360 days before the conduct of the election.
“Consequently, the certificate of return already issued to the purportedly elected chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect”.
