From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) party has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to court, seeking cancellation of local government election slated for February 2025.
The APC and 19 members of the party in suit no. Hos/184/2024 challenged the validity of the whole exercise.
The claimants also joined the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Oluwole Jimi-Bada.
OSSIEC Chairman Barrister Hashim Abioye had in September disqualified some candidates of the opposition party (APC) from participating in the election, a decision opposed by the leadership of the affected party.
In an originating summons signed by the claimants’ counsel, Muhydeen Adeoye Galadima, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the claimants bemoaned the conduct of the state electoral commission since the commencement of the entire process.
The claimants sought a court declaration that the whole activities so far taken by the 1st defendant from 22nd of July 2024 are premature, illegal, null and void, the same having occasioned deprivation to the claimants of the right of access to the tribunal over the 1st defendant’s decisions against the claimants.
They also sought a declaration that the 1st defendant acted ultra vires with respect to its July 2024 decision amending the notice of 2025 local government elections issued on 19th February, 2024 and therefore the said amended notice of elections is illegal, unlawful, null, and void.
The claimants further sought the court declaration that the 1st defendant’s amended notice of elections of the 2025 local government councils is illegal, unlawful, invalid, null, and void.
They sought an order of the court directing the defendants to jointly or severally pay damages in the sum of N100 million to the claimants in addition to tendering a written apology to the claimants for the public embarrassment, humiliation, disturbance, and trauma caused to the claimants over an attempt of the 1st defendant to deprive the claimants opportunity to fully participate in the 2025 local government elections in Osun State.
