An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025. The ruling, delivered by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe on Friday, followed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the participating parties in the election.
Announcing the court’s decision in Osogbo, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwole Jimi-Bada, stated that the judge, after reviewing previous rulings on the matter, declared all 30 local government chairmanship positions vacant. Consequently, OSSIEC was mandated to fill the positions through a democratic process.
“In light of this ruling, there is nothing preventing the defendant from proceeding with the election scheduled for tomorrow, February 22,” Jimi-Bada stated.
He also called on security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Amotekun Corps, to ensure adequate security and maintain law and order during and after the election.
The ruling granted the claimant’s request, mandating OSSIEC to conduct the elections as scheduled to fill the vacant chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 30 local government areas.
The court ruling was announced in the presence of key officials, including former Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Niyi Owolade, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, among others.
