Osun State High Court in Ilesa has ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct elections for the vacant positions of chairmen and councillors in the 30 local government areas of the state.
This court gave the order on Friday, sequel to a suit brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the parties participating in the election.
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating, and compelling the defendants to fill the vacancies across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State through a democratic process by proceeding to conduct the local government elections already scheduled by the defendants for 22nd of February, 2025,” the order read.
Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe who gave the order also asked security agencies to provide security and peace before, during, and after the election.
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating and compelling all the security agents comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante Groups etc. to provide adequate security and maintain peace and order before, during and after the local government election scheduled by the Defendants for February 22, 2025, in Osun State,” the court said.
Osun State has been embroiled in a crisis over plans to conduct local government elections, leading to the loss of lives. The polls were fixed for Saturday, February 22nd, 2025.
But since that announcement, the South-West state has experienced a series of crises, prompting the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi to call for the halting of the exercise.
Fagbemi hinged his advice on a court verdict that restored local government officials in the state who were previously sacked.
“Any such election that may be held will not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, but it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold,” the AGF said.
