For allegedly appointing a card-carrying member of his political party as the chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke before a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital.
An assistant secretary of Osun APC, Waheed Adeniran, in an affidavit in support of the originating summons filed by the party’s lawyer, Ayodele Kusamotu, urged the court to set aside the appointment of Barr Hasim Abioye as the chairman of OSIEC.
Joined in the suit marked FHC/OS/CS/2/2024 are the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the attorney-general of Osun State and commissioner for justice, the speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hasim Akintunde Abioye and Osun State Independent Electoral Commission.
APC contended that, “The nomination and appointment of a partisan person as the chairman of the state electoral body offends the law and will not guarantee credible Local Government elections in which other political parties are expected to participate”.
The party alsoclaimed that, “The new chairman, having been a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in the state will not be neutral and impartial in the local Government election processes”.
It sought “a declaration that the 3rd defendant cannot validly and legally nominate and forward the name of the 7th defendant as a bonafide member of his registered political party, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to the 5th and 6th defendants for screening and confirmation to be appointed by him as the chairman of the 8th defendant, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission.”An order of perpetual injunction restraining 7th and 8th Defendants or any of their members or agents or officers or any other person or persons acting on their behalf from conducting local government elections into Osun State local government councils Osun State local development councils, Osun State local council administrative offices and Osun State local council area offices until the 7th defendant is removed from office as the chairman of the 8th defendant reconstituted.’’
