The Osun State High Court in Ilesa has directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with local government elections as scheduled.
Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe issued the ruling on Friday, following a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating, and compelling the defendants to fill the vacancies across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State through a democratic process by proceeding to conduct the Local Government Elections already scheduled by the defendants for 22nd of February, 2025,” the judge ruled.
The court also ordered security agencies to ensure peace before, during, and after the elections.
READ ALSO: Adeleke Insists Osun LG Election Will Hold Despite Court Ruling
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating, and compelling all the security agents comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“As well as the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante Groups etc. to provide adequate security and maintain peace and order before, during, and after the local government election scheduled by the Defendants for February 22, 2025, in Osun State,” the ruling stated.
Osun has witnessed rising tensions over the planned polls, with reported violence in parts of the state.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had called for the elections to be halted.
He based his argument on a Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated previously sacked local government officials.
“Any such election that may be held will not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, but it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold,” Fagbemi stated.
Despite the federal government’s position, Governor Ademola Adeleke insisted the elections would go ahead.
“As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help. The election is going to hold, and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level,” he asserted in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.