By Folarunsho Alagbede
Despite the air of uncertainty surrounding the local government election Osun State, the governor, Ademola Adeleke has affirmed that the poll would hold as planned.
Governor Adeleke also stated that the election will hold on today, February 22, 2025 midwife by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC).
This assertion was made by the governor on Friday while receiving a delegation from a civil society coalition who are in the state to monitor the local government elections.
The Governor maintained that voters are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday
He also expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the OSSIEC, the electoral body.
“Our people are prepared for elections tomorrow. They yearn to have their choices as chairmen and councillors.
“OSSIEC has also done marvelous preparatory job according to reports at my disposal. Several political parties are participating and I believe there will be a level playing ground for all to test their popularity with the masses.”
On the controversy over the election, the governor asserted that democracy is governed by the rule of law and that nobody can assume the authority of the courts.
“My advice to all parties including local and national stakeholders is to abide by democratic norms. As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self- help.
“Election is going to hold and the outcome will be a fast tracked development at the local level. I urge our people to remain peaceful. Osun is a truly peaceful state”, Governor Adeleke noted.
It would be recalled that an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has given OSSIEC the power to carry on with the local government election on Saturday.
The order was given on Friday in a suit numbered HIL/M.19/2025, brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, one of the political parties participating in the election.
The order came at a time the OSSIEC had concluded arrangements for the local government election, slated for Saturday 22nd February 2025.
The court found as a fact, “that the election conducted by the 1st Defendant on 15th October, 2022, having been invalidated, nullified and voided, and the purported elected officials produced by the purported election having been sacked by the Federal High Court in FHC/CS/OS/103/2022; Action Peoples Party (APP) VS. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) & Ors, delivered on the 30th November, 2022 and as confirmed by the decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/226M/2024; Allied People Movement (APM) & Ors VS. Action Peoples Party (APP) & ORS delivered on the 13th January, 2025, vacancy actually exists in the political administration of local councils in the State, thereby, consequently upholding the prayers of the PDP in the suit”.
Consequently, the court granted the prayers of the claimant, seeking an order of the court “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 court further directed and compelled all the security agencies, comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Department of State Security Services, (DSS) the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the vigilante group, among others, in the state, to provide adequate security, during and after the election.
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