Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with local government elections across the state’s 30 local government areas.
The ruling follows the nullification of a previous election held on October 15, 2022.
Presiding over the case, Justice A.A. Aderibigbe granted three key orders.
Justice Aderibigbe said the previous election was invalidated and its officials removed by a Federal High Court ruling, later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
This comes as the state governor, Ademola Adeleke has restricted movement of vehicles during the period of the exercise.
The judge added that OSSIEC must conduct fresh elections, as scheduled, on February 22, 2025, to fill the vacant positions.
Furthermore, Justice Aderibigbe ordered security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, and others, to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
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In response to the ruling, Osun State Attorney General, Wole Jimi Bada, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to upholding the law.
He urged all stakeholders, including voters, to comply with the court order and participate peacefully in the elections.
“The judgment is explicit, and I call on all stakeholders to take part in the elections. We must remain peaceful as we exercise our voting rights in compliance with the court’s decision,” he stated at a press briefing.
The state government further assured the public of adequate security measures to ensure a smooth electoral process.
