Following an order of the Federal High Court, Osogbo nullifying the October 15 local government election in Osun, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSIEC, has withdrawn the certificates of return from the elected Chairmen and Councillors.

A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of OSIEC, Adedapo Adejumo, in Osogbo also indicates that the commission will not appeal the judgement.

The decision of the Commission is coming against the backdrop of OSIEC’s failure to follow strictly the provisions of section 24 of OSIEC Law, 2022 and Section 28 of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandate the Commission to give a notice of 360 days before the conduct of the election.

The statement reads; “Consequent upon the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in the case FHC\OS\CS\94\2022 involving the Peoples Democratic Party VS the Independent National Electoral Commission, OSIEC, and 6 others, delivered on Friday 25th November, 2022 which nullified the Local Government Elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on the 15th October, 2022, the Commission hereby announces it’s decision not to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo”.

“In view of this, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) aligns perfectly with the decision of the Federal High Court, Osogbo as the elections stand nullified”.

“Consequently, the Certificate of Returns already issued to the purportedly elected Chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect”.

Funmi Adekoya

The Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Otunba Segun Oladitan says the commission will conduct local government elections in the state on October 15th,2022.

Otunba Oladitan stated this in Osogbo while addressing journalists on the level of preparedness of the commission for the exercise.

The OSIEC Chairman noted that the recently enacted law by the state house assembly had given the commission power to conduct the local government elections in the state 

He said the commission had held parley with all political parties in the state to inform them about the impeding exercise and expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

Otunba Oladitan however solicited the support of all critical stakeholders so as to make the exercise a huge success.

Wasiu Ajadosu 

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission ( OSIEC) bill 2022 and Osun State Local Government Area Creation and Administration Amendment no 5 have passed throughsecond reading.

The two bills scaled through second reading at the plenary of the House of Assembly, Osogbo.

In Seperate contributions on Osun State Independent Electoral commission, bill 2022, the lawmakers noted that the bill would allow peaceful conduct of elections in the state.

They stressed that, the bill if passed into law would pave way for free and fair election and enhance peaceful environment in the state.

They urged the house of assembly to give the bill accelerated passage for good people of the state.
Speaking on the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission ( OSIEC) bill 2022 , The Speaker who described the bill as a good policy for the local government administration in the state observed that the bill would put in place structure for democratically elected officers in the state.

He said that the bill would give legal backing to local government elections in the state.

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly dissolved into Committee of Whole for further consideration of Osun State Local Government Areas Creation and Administration Amendment no 5 bill 2022 where every corrections and amendments to form part of the bill accordingly.

In his remark, Mr Owoeye made it known that the bill would pave way for Presidential system of government instead of Parliamentary.

He noted that the bill if passed into law would ensure separation of powers in Local Government Areas.

According to him, “This bill will put democracy in place and good for local government administration”.

“Is a way of strategising local democracy of the state” he added.

Mojisola Oladele