No Going Back! Osun Govt Declares Sacked LG Officials Out For Good, Warns Of Arrests

No Going Back! Osun Govt Declares Sacked LG Officials Out For Good, Warns Of Arrests

The Osun State Government has reiterated that the sacked local government officials will remain out of office, dismissing reports that the Court of Appeal reinstated them. This clarification follows the judgment delivered on Monday, February 10, 2025, regarding the legal disputes surrounding the October 15, 2022, local government elections……READ MORE

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the government emphasized that the recent court ruling did not validate the disputed elections. Instead, the court dismissed a case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on technical grounds, citing that the suit was premature since it was filed before the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) had officially announced the election notice.

The government assured citizens that the local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025, will proceed as planned. Security agencies have been instructed to prevent any unlawful attempts by the sacked officials to reclaim office.

Legal Background on the Disputed Elections

The statement also highlighted a previous case filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and OSSIEC, which led to a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the October 2022 elections.

Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel, in a ruling delivered on November 30, 2022, declared the elections unconstitutional, citing violations of the Electoral Act 2022. The key points of the judgment included:

The elections held on October 15, 2022, were declared unconstitutional, null, and void due to violations of constitutional provisions and breaches of sections 28, 29, 32, 98, and 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.
All individuals occupying local government offices as a result of the annulled elections were ordered to vacate their positions.
Sections 25 and 26 of the OSSIEC Law 2022 were struck down for being inconsistent with the Electoral Act 2022.

This ruling was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025, reinforcing the dismissal of the local government officials.

Government Directs Security to Maintain Order

Following these legal developments, the Osun State Government has directed security agencies to remain vigilant and ensure that no individual or group disrupts the prevailing peace in the state. Authorities have been instructed to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to unlawfully reoccupy local government offices.

Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLAs) have also been urged to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing council secretariats. Any attempts to forcefully enter government premises should be reported immediately to security agencies.

The government concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to law and order, stating, “The only valid judgment currently in effect is the court order nullifying the October 2022 elections. We urge security operatives to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to disrupt the peace in Osun State. The local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025, will proceed as planned.”