The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has been ordered to proceed with local government elections across the state.
The directive was issued on Friday, February 21, 2025, by an Osun State High Court in Osogbo, ahead of the polls set for Saturday, February 22.
The ruling came in response to a case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its chairman, Hashim Abioye.
Justice A. Aderigbigbe, in his judgment, stated that all 30 local government areas in the state currently have vacancies, as previously declared by the Federal High Court.
He further noted that the 2022 local government election conducted by OSIEC had been nullified, and all officials elected during that process were removed following a ruling in a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others.
Acknowledging the vacancies, the court ruled in favor of the PDP’s request and directed OSIEC to go ahead with the elections.
Furthermore, the court instructed security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Army, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups, to provide adequate security throughout the election period.
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