By METROWATCH Reporter
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, Friday declared as null and void, the local government election conducted in the state on October 15 by the out-going governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Presided over by his Lordship, Hon. Justice Ayo-Nathaniel Emmanuel, said while delivering the judgement that the Local Government Election that was conducted by OSIEC on 15th Day of October, 2022 is ILLEGAL, NULL and VOID having not conducted in consonance with Electoral Act of 2022.
The court ordered the local government chairmen and the councillors elected in the process to vacate Local Government Secretariats/Offices with immediate Effect.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, in his judgment, said the election was held in contravention of Sections 29 & 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Peoples Democratic Party had approached the court asking it to stop OSIEC from going ahead with the planned polls.
Other respondents in the matter include INEC, APC and its then chairman, Adeboyega Famoodun.
PDP hails sacking of the LG bosses, says ‘we are vindicated‘
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The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun has hailed the sacking by a Federal High Court of kangaroo council chairmen recently elected in violation of electoral laws, saying the party is vindicated by its activism against the illegality of outgoing Oyetola administration.
His Lordship, Honourable Justice Ayo-Nathaniel Emmanuel of Federal High Court Osogbo had declared Local Government Election that was conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on 15th Day of October, 2022 as illegal, null and void, having not being conducted in consonance with Electoral Act of 2022.
Court orders the products (Kangaroo LG Chairmen and Councillors) of the said election to vacate local government secretariats and offices with immediate Effect.
Reacting to the judgement, the State Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP, Dr Akindele Adekunle lamented that about N1.5 billion naira best deployed for workers’ welfare was wasted by the Oyetola’s administration for the conduct of the election in addition to several millions of naira illegally paid as salaries and allowances to fake council chiefs.
“We had warned against holding of that fake selection they called election. We had cited all relevant legal authorities to convince OSIEC to back out of the undemocratic scheme. The Commission Chairman who himself is a lawyer decided to act against clear provisions of the law to supervise this crudely executed lawlessness.
“This judgement is an affirmation of the correctness of many alerts we had issued in recent times. The outgoing Governor had deliberately committed a lot of infractions and lawlessness. We will deploy all legal means to correct the anomalies in compliance with public service rules, extant laws and the constitution of the republic”, the party leader stated.
While congratulating PDP members and people of Osun state, the party Chairman pledged that the party and its Governor-elect will right all the wrongs, protect the public service, observe due process, deliver on local government autonomy and be responsive to citizens’ aspirations.
E-Signed:
Dr Akindele Adekunle,
State Caretaker Chairman,
Osun State PDP