The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has withdrawn from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22.
This was stated in a letter dated February 17, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the State Independent Electoral Commission.
A copy of the letter, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Osogbo, cited the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment, which reinstated the party’s chairmen and councillors, as the reason for its withdrawal.
The letter read:
“Recall that the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHF/OS/CS/94/2022 was nullified on February 10 by the Court of Appeal in Akure, in appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022 between APC and three others v. Peoples Democratic Party and others.
“By this judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as permitted by the Appeal Court. The implication of the ruling is that the seats are no longer vacant.”
“In view of this, we hereby notify the commission of our withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for February 22. The election has become unnecessary, redundant, and unlawful due to this development.”
The Court of Appeal ruling has fueled a dispute between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the reinstatement of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors. While the PDP argued that the judgment did not reinstate the officials elected in 2022, the APC maintained that they had rightfully returned to their offices.
Tensions escalated on Monday as both parties clashed over control of local government secretariats across the state. The police confirmed that six people lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries during the violence.
