The rally is expected to feature the presentation of party flags to candidates who emerged in last Saturday’s primary election conducted by the party.

It was reported that the Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, is a beehive of activities, with party leaders and supporters seen carrying flags and other party insignia.

Chairman of the party, Tony Okocha, arrived early with members of the state executive for the event and was welcomed with a loud ovation.

Some of the candidates sighted at the rally include Confidence Deko (Gokana LGA), Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emuoha), Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt City LGA), and Vincent Nemienoka (Ogu/Bolo LGA), among others.

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A statement from the Commission’s Information Officer, Sadiat Isiaka, noted that the Commission’s chairman, Hashim Abioye, presented the council officials their certificates.

OSSIEC had conducted the poll after the state government rejected advice from the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Egbetokun, asking them to discontinue the exercise.

It should be noted that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, cleared all 30 local government chairmanship and 332 Councillorship seats in the just concluded 2025 local government election in Osun State.

However, the opposition’s All Progressives Congress rejected the results, claiming the election was not held in any part of the state to warrant the declaration of results.

 OSSIEC Chairman congratulated the elected chairmen on their victory, just as he urged them to be good ambassadors of democracy both in conduct and service to the people.

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The AGF, in a statement he signed in Abuja on Thursday, warned that conducting a new local government council election would not only be invalid but would also amount to a breach of the Constitution since the tenure of the purportedly sacked council chairmen is still running according to last week’s decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.

He also urged Governor Adeleke to tow the path of law and shun violence.

Read Also: OSSIEC denies military siege, confirms Saturday LG poll

The statement read in part ” My attention has been drawn to the public outcry of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure division delivered on the 10th day of February 2025 in Appeal No CA/AK/272/2022, which nullified and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, delivered on 25th day of November 2022.

“It has become necessary to issue this public notice to remove doubts, fears and uncertainties created by misrepresentations and disinformation concerning the legal effect of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“Putting matters in proper context, the event that led to the two judgments was that during the currency of the term of the former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, the election was held into all the local governments of Osun State and winners were sworn in.”

He added that according to the facts made available to his office, it was the attempt by the said elected officials to resume their positions that was resisted by some disgruntled elements which led to the crisis in the state.

Warning against a fresh LG poll scheduled for Saturday, the AGF said,  any of such election that may be held will not only be invalid – since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgment of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025 – it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.

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It will be recalled that an Appeal Court sitting in Akure on Monday reinstated the elected local government chairmen and councilors sacked by Governor Ademola Adeleke, ordering the immediate resumption back to office.

Meanwhile, OSSIEC, through its Chairman, has filed an appeal against the Appeal Court judgment, saying that there is no court order returning any elected official into office while stressing that local government election will be held in the state.

Read Also: Appeal Court reinstates sacked APC local govt chairmen in Osun ahead of 2025 LG poll

While speaking on Rédíò Afínju’s Yoruba current affairs program ‘Gbagede Ọrọ,’ Oladapo maintained that OSSIEC as an electoral body should be non-aligned in active partisanship, but the electoral body has subjected itself to an object of ridicule as a result of how the body is handling political power tussle in the State with high favoritism indications.

Oladapo further hinted that if not properly managed, it could lead to unrest in the State at large and also affect the newly agreed local government autonomy, which seeks to make life better for people at the grassroots.

He however urged the youths to shun political thuggery and hooliganism as most political office holders indulge youths to carry out their misdeeds.

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The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has reinstated the elected local government chairmen and councilors sacked by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The appellant court, in a judgment today, ordered the immediate resumption of office of the council officials who are all members of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has filed an appeal against the Appeal Court judgment.

It should, however,be recalled that upon assumption into office in November 2022, Governor Adeleke sacked the local government officials after a High Court decision had earlier upturned their election.

Read Also: Osun Court adjourns suit stopping poll to Jan 17

The High Court sacked the council officials after their election which was organised by OSSIEC.

The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other political parties had approached the High Court to challenge the council elections.

They prayed the court to declare the election nullity because it was only the APC candidates who contested vacant positions, and the ‘options given to them were either a YES or NO.’

In another development, OSSIEC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hashim Abioye maintained that there is no court order returning any elected official into office, stressing that Local Government Election will hold on the 22nd of February, 2025.

He added that in specific terms, the thirty (30) Local Government Areas in Osun State remain vacant till date as there is a substituting decision of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal against the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its purported candidates.

Abioye urged the public to remain calm and all political parties to go about their peaceful campaigns as they countdown to the D-day, that is 22nd February, 2025. 

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The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission ,ODIEC, Joseph Aeemo, declared this at the headquarters of the commission in Akure on Sunday.

He noted that while the rescheduled election is being held in Ondo West LGA, results are being expected from Owo LGA.

Only twelve political parties contested for the chairmanship and councillorship offices in the elections held on Saturday.

Ahead of the poll, the People’s Democratic Party ,PDP, announced its decision to withdraw from the election, saying it does not believe in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct a credible election.

Read Also: PDP Withdraws From Ondo Local Government Polls

The names of the 12 political parties contesting in the election include: Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, Action People’s Party, All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Boot Party, and Labour Party.

Others include the National Rescue Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

Before the Saturday poll, the last council election in the state was conducted on August 23, 2020, with the tenure of the elected council officials elapsing on August 22, 2023.

Since then, the administration of the 18 council areas of the state has been managed by civil servants, specifically the Heads of Local Government Administrations.

However, after several postponements, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission finally fixed January 18, 2025, for the conduct of the election.

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An Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Thursday adjourned the suit for the hearing of pending applications or a settlement report.

Report gathered that the suit was filed by the Osun All Progressives Congress, APC, and 19 of its candidates disqualified by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC.

The candidates filed the suit against the OSSIEC, the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the State Attorney General.

The plaintiffs sought legal redress to halt the elections, citing irregularities and exclusion from the local government poll.

Muhideen Adeoye, the counsel to the claimants, revealed that they are seeking two key reliefs.

Adeoye said they included, “the invalidation of the amended election notice published by OSSIEC on July 18, 2024, and the inclusion of the disqualified candidates if the poll proceeds.”

Read Also: Osun LG Poll: APC, others face disqualification in seven LGs — OSSIEC

At the hearing presided over by Justice Adedapo Adeniji, counsel for the All Peoples Party, APP, Moruf Adediran, sought to join the suit.

However, the State Attorney General’s counsel, Deji Atoyebi, requested more time to respond to the application.

Meanwhile, OSSIEC’s counsel, Musibau Adetunbi, proposed an out-of-court settlement.

He suggested that the claimants withdraw their reliefs challenging the amended election notice and the absence of an Election Petition Tribunal, while OSSIEC could reconsider its rejection of the candidates’ nominations.

Adeoye also acknowledged the time-sensitive nature of the matter and promised to consult his clients on the proposed settlement, indicating readiness to present their decision at the next court date.

Ruling on the suit, Justice Adeniji adjourned the case to January 17, 2025, for the hearing of the pending applications or a settlement report.

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CHRAN director, Otuekong  Isong, said the essence of the event was for the CSO to take active part in the process of good governance by bringing all the relevant stakeholders together on a table including the 12 political parties that would take part in the elections.

He said there was need for good governance at the grassroots especially now the Federal government has granted financial autonomy to them urging the people to ensure they go for credible candidates and AKISIEC as well should be fair to all parties.

He said  more funds will be given to local government chairmen following financial autonomy granted by president Bola Tinubu and the Attorney general.

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