TEXT OF BROADCAST BY HASHIM ABIOYE ESQ., CHAIRMAN OSUN STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (OSSIEC) ON THE COURT OF APPEAL VERDICT DELIVERED TODAY 13TH JUNE, 2025, IN THE RELISTING CASE FILED BY THE APC.
Dear good people, indigenes and residents of Osun State, especially those who are stakeholders in the Osun State local government electoral process, I am glad to inform you that the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has today re-affirmed that the local government election conducted by this Commission in 2022 under the immediate past administration was null and void, as such the acclaimed beneficiaries of the said election benefitted nothing. This translated to the fact that as the time this Commission under my leadership commenced the process of the February 2025 local government election throughout the period of the election, vacancies did exist in Osun local council political offices. The constitutional mandate of this Commission is to organise and supervise conduct of local government elections at the due time. This mandate we effectively and responsibly discharged by giving a notice of election in full compliance with relevant electoral laws and in total fidelity to applicable regulations and guidelines.
However, in what appeared to be an outlandish postulation and a deliberate manipulation, some saboteurs made attempts to frustrate the conduct of the election by forcing on us a bizzare situation- a false claim of reinstatement and a bogus claim of “NO VACANCY”. The dangerous actors had twisted the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on 10th February, 2025, by importing into same what was not therein contained. They cleverly invented the word “reinstatement”, then they enlisted and unfortunately got the backing of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun who collaborated together to jeopardize the process of the local government election which was commenced since about a year before these manipulative theatrics. OSSIEC office was sealed by the police on the order of the IGP, acting on the “advice” of the AGF. As a matter of fact, the Force Headquarters through the PPRO made a release at the election eve, warning against holding the election. It must be noted that the advice of the AGF and the directive by the IGP afforded some political actors the opportunity to fire open threats at the Commission and its staff some hours to the election. There were also some incidents of arrest, harassment, intimidation and molestation of some of the staff engaged by the Commission. On the order of the IGP, banking on the advice of the AGF, NOT on any court order, OSSIEC premises was sealed up, thank God for our alertness and proactiveness as we sensed all of the game, hence we deployed a strategy by the grace of God, and it worked. The election held peacefully and successfully, winners emerged and were duly issued certificate of returns. The AGF and the IGP for obvious reasons, ignored a subsisting decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal by a political party in yet another judgment which nullified the 2022 Osun State local government elections. Sadly again, they both derided and encouraged the derision of a valid judgment of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa which declared that vacancies existed and that OSSIEC should go ahead to fill the vacancies across all the local council areas of Osun State.
This has been the situation, up until today when the same Court of Appeal gave its verdict which in crystal clear terms implied that there was no reinstatement. This to us was a vindication of our conviction and a validation of our action, all along. Our commitment to due process and rule of law was turned against us by political actors unfortunately backed by some super political powers and persons in authority. We suffered condemnations, tribulations and accusations in the hands of manipulators. Alhamdulillah today, the siege is over.
Let me reiterate it that our products of 22nd February, 2025 are the only legitimate officials who are to function as political heads of the respective Osun local councils. Dealing with any other persons or category of persons is an aberration and a big risk. This is a “CAVEAT EMPTOR” note to all persons and authorities that only the winners of the Osun 2025 local government elections who have been duly sworn-in are the legitimate officials.
I wish to highlight further that the AGF and IGP owe the people of Osun State sincere apologies. They can make good their position by offering good advice and instruction conscientiously and appropriately. I thank all genuinely concerned persons and stakeholders in the electoral process, and of course the people of Osun State for their patience and perseverance all these days. The judgement of the Court of Appeal today has brought reliefs after so much pains inflicted by desperate actors. The siege is now over and we can all sing songs of praises to God for seeing us through the due electoral process we embarked upon which was a standard gauge for integrity, transparency and credibility. The siege is now over.
Thank you and God bless!
Hashim Abioye, Esq.,
Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
