The Osun State High Court in Ilesa has ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC), to conduct elections for the vacant positions of chairmen and councillors in the 30 local government areas of the South-West state.
This court gave the order on Friday, sequel to a suit brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the parties participating in the election.
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating, and compelling the defendants to fill the vacancies across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State through a democratic process by proceeding to conduct the Local Government ELECTIONS already scheduled by the defendants for 22nd of February, 2025,” the order read.
Osun State has been embroiled in crisis over plans to conduct the LG polls.
Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe who gave the order also asked security agencies to provide security and peace before, during, and after the election.
“An order of this honourable court is granted, directing, mandating and compelling all the security agents comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante Groups etc. to provide adequate security and maintain peace and order before, during and after the local government election scheduled by the Defendants for February 22, 2025, in Osun State,” the court said.