Court throws out suit seeking to postpone Ogun LG poll

By Folorunsho Alagbede

The Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta has dismissed a suit by 16 political parties in the state, seeking to postpone the proposed local government elections scheduled for November 16th.
The presiding judge, Justice T. A. Okunsokan, while delivering judgment in the suit numbered AB/577/2024, Action Alliance & 15 Ors v. OGSIEC & Anor, rejected the claims of the political parties that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) had acted unilaterally and dictatorially by fixing the date of the local government elections without first consulting the political parties.
Justice T.A Okunsokan unequivocally held that there was no provision in the Constitution or the relevant electoral laws that required the electoral umpire to consult political parties before fixing the date of elections.
The court also found that the claim of the parties that Ondo State governorship elections would be held on the same day as Ogun local government elections is not a legitimate reason for asking the court to compel the electoral commission to postpone elections in the state.
The court thereby maintained the status quo ante on the earlier announced date for the Ogun State local government elections slated for 16th November 2024.