Osun Gov’ship Election Under Threat As Yoruba Groups Ask Court To Stop Poll

 

Ismaeel Uthman

THE July 16, 2022 governorship election in the State of Osun is under threat. 

About 17 Yoruba self-determination activists who are leaders of various Yoruba groups, have approached a Federal High Court in Osun to stop the conduct of the election. 

The activists also want court to stop Ekiti State governorship election. 

Led by the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Prof. Banji Akintoye, his Deputy, Prof. Wale Adeniran; Chief Bayo Orire and 14 others, the activists said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not conduct election with the 1999 Constitution which validity is being challenged in court. 

The activists had prayed the courts to declare that the current 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) is illegal, invalid and of no effect whatsoever because no referendum was conducted before it was enacted.

According to a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the Communications Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, the suit was filed on behalf of the activists by their lawyer, Mr. Tolu Babaleye.

Adeleye said the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC are defendants in the matter.

He said: “The activists prayed the courts for a categorical order that, against the backdrop that the current constitution is illegal and invalid because no referendum was conducted before it was enacted, INEC does not have the law that can be used to conduct elections anywhere in Yorubaland, a region within Nigeria, thus, the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship polls and all future elections should be stopped in Yorubaland until a referendum is held for the Yoruba people to decide on the system they want for themselves within Nigeria and whether they even want to remain as Nigerians.”

Adeleye urged all Yoruba people, especially self-determination activists in Ekiti and Osun states, to mobilise themselves and ensure that they are present in courts in Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti whenever the cases are called for mention.