Justice Ayo-Nathaniel Emmanuel of the Federal High Court , Osogbo, on Friday declared the local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on October 15, 2022 as illegal, null and void, adding that it was not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act of 2022.
The court ordered the local government chairmen and councilors that were declared as winners of the local government elections in question to vacate the respective local government secretariats and offices with immediate effect.
Osun state PDP submitted on Friday that the court ruling had gotten the party vindicated ,calling the affected local government functionaries ‘kangaroo council chairmen’ .
Chairman, Osun state PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr Akindele Adekunle in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com lamented that about N1.5 billion naira that would have been used to take care of workers’ welfare was wasted by the Oyetola administration through the conduct of the local government elections in addition ‘to several millions of naira illegally paid as salaries and allowances to the fake council chiefs’.
‘We had warned against holding the fake selection that they called election. We had cited all relevant legal authorities to convince OSIEC to back out of the undemocratic scheme. The Commission’s Chairman ,who is himself a lawyer, decided to act against clear provisions of the law to supervise this crudely executed lawlessness.
This judgment is an affirmation of the correctness of many alerts we had issued in recent times. The outgoing Governor had deliberately committed a lot of infractions and lawlessness. We will deploy all legal means to correct the anomalies in compliance with public service rules, extant laws and the constitution of the country’ the party stated.
While congratulating PDP members and people of Osun state, the statement noted that the party and its Governor-elect, will right all the wrongs, protect the public service, observe due process, deliver on local government autonomy and be responsive to citizens’ aspirations.
The state APC had however since asked the affected local government functionaries and party members not to lose sleep over the court ruling , calling it a temporary setback.
The party added that necessary steps have been taken to appeal the judgment.
Deputy Chairman , Osun state APC, Sooko Taju Lawal, in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Media Adviser, Mr Kola Olabisi, noted that the development was just a temporary setback which would be corrected through an appellate court.
Lawal told the council political functionaries and all the members of the party to continue to embrace peace and shun any manner of provocation that may arise sequel to the Federal High Court judgment.
He reminded them that under no circumstances must they lose their composure and placidity as ardent believers in the rule of law.
‘Our party is taking all necessary legal steps to ensure that the judgment that nullified the local government council elections does not stand.
We need your continued co-operation to weather the storm with an assurance that there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel’ Lawal stated.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Osun state chapter has also urged calm.
Describing the ruling as a temporary setback, ALGON has asked party members to remain peaceful as the leadership of the party – All Progressives Congress (APC) and all Chairmen across the 69 Local Government Areas, Local Council Development Areas, Area Councils and Administrative Offices had already filed a Notice of Appeal and a Stay of Execution .
The state ALGON Chairman, Hon. Abiodun Idowu in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com told party loyalists that there was no cause for concern as necessary legal process had been taken to reverse the court decision-.- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
