OSIEC’ll not appeal court ruling nullifying Osun council poll, says executive secretary

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Executive Secretary, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Adedapo Adejumo, said the Commission will not appeal the Federal High Court ruling nullifying the election into local governments in the state.

He said the Commission has withdrawn the Certificate of Returns issued to all the elected chairmen and councillors with immediate effect.

Adejumo, in a statement in Osogbo on Monday said the commission aligned with the judgement of the Federal High Court that nullified the local government 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 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 its decision not to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo.

“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.

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the Certificate of Returns already issued to the purportedly elected Chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”