APP Drags INEC, OSIEC To Court Over Local Government Election

 

Yusuf Oketola

THERE is a fresh legal firework against the October 15, 2022 local government election in the State of Osun.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Osun State Electoral Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) before a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, over the election.

APP, in a suite registered FHC/OS/15/103/22 file at the court on August 26, 2022 noted that the planned local government election by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration is invalid, illegal and unconstitutional, saying it contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The party prayed the court to restrain INEC from releasing the register of voters across the state to OSIEC until the later complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act as regard notice of election, nomination of candidate, publication of names and others. 

APP also prayed the court to set aside the notice of the election dated August 15, 2022 as given by OSIEC for being in contravention to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

It also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining OSIEC from commencing the process of conducting elections or actually conducting elections into the local government councils across Osun until the commission complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

During the continuation of the case at the Federal High Court on Wednesday, some political parties through their lawyers, applied to be joined in the suite as defendants. 

The All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had earlier been joined as defendants in the suit.

Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, lead counsel to the plaintiff, Hashim Abioye, accused APC of sponsoring other political parties to join the suite so as to delay hearing on the case.

The case was adjourned till October 10, 2022 for hearing by Justice Emmanuel Ayoola.