Osogbo – The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has recalled the Certificates of Return from the local government chairmen and councilors elected during the local government elections held on Oct.15.
A federal high court sitting in Osogbo had on Friday, November 25 nullified the conduct and outcomes of the elections.
The Secretary of OSIEC, Mr. Adedapo Adejumo, said the commission had no intention to appeal the judgment of the court.
Consequently, Adedapo in a statement on Monday in Osogbo ordered the elected Chairmen and Councillors to immediately return their certificates of return to the commission.
“Consequent upon the judgment 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 six others, delivered on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, which nullified the Local Government Elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on Oct. 15, 2022, the commission hereby announces its decision not to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court.
“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 mandated the Commission to give a notice of 360 days before the conduct of the election.
“In view of this, the OSIEC aligns perfectly with the decision of the Federal High Court, 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“Consequently, the Certificate of Returns already issued to the purportedly elected Chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect,” he said.
Gov. Ademola Adeleke had earlier in the day in a statement by Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, Secretary to Osun State Government, ordered the immediate suspension of the OSIEC Chairman, Mr. Segun Oladitan along with other members of the Commission.
Igbalaye explained that the Chairman and its members were suspended based on several petitions, bothering on financial impropriety and abuse of office brought against the chairman and members of his commission.
He, however, directed Secretary to the Commission to run the affairs of the state electoral body, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against the suspended chairman and members.
