Consequent upon the federal high court ruling nullifying the Local Government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on October 15, 2022, the commission, Monday, said it has complied with the court decision and will not be appealing the judgment.
The judgment delivered last week Friday annulled the election in the case (FHCOSCS942022), involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vs the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), on the premise that the electoral umpire did not follow 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.
However, in reaction to the judgment, the Executive Secretary of OSIEC, Mr. Adedapo Ayodeji Adejumo, in a statement, said “the commission hereby announces its decision not to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo.”
Speaking further, “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 eelction.
“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“Consequently, the Certificates of Return already issued to the purportedly elected Chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”
