The Osun State High Court in Osogbo has directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to proceed with local government elections across the state.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, February 21, 2025, came ahead of the scheduled polls set for Saturday, February 22. The judgment was in response to a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and its chairman, Hashim Abioye.
Justice A. Aderigbigbe ruled that there were existing vacancies in all 30 local government areas of the state, as previously determined by the Federal High Court.
He noted that the 2022 local government election conducted by OSIEC had been declared void, leading to the removal of officials elected during that process following a case between the Action Peoples Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others.
Recognizing the vacancies, the court upheld the PDP’s plea and ordered OSIEC to proceed with the elections.
Additionally, the court directed security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Army, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups, to ensure a secure environment throughout the election process.
