Controversy over Osun LG election as court halts process

The Local Government Election fixed for January 27, 2018 by the
Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) seems to be in
jeopardy as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the
process.

The presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho, while making a
pronouncement after the submission of the lead counsel to the
plaintiff, Chief Robert Clerk, ordered that status quo ante should
be maintained, pending the hearing of the case proper, and that
every step taken should be in tandem with the dictate of the
constitution.

Tsoho, therefore, adjourned the case till January 28, 2018.

DAILY POST gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun
had instituted an action against the ruling All Progressive
Congress (APC), over what it termed as “illegality in the process
of establishing Local Council Development Areas” (LCDAs).

According to the timetable released by OSIEC, the total of the
37 LCDAs were to participate in the election slated for
January.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government in its reaction, through
the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr.
Ajibola Bashir debunked such a court process, saying it was not in
any way aware of such litigation.

“Our attention has been drawn to a news circulating to the
effect that a Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped all processes
regarding the Local Government Election in the State of Osun
scheduled to hold on 27th January, 2017.

“The Office of the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner
of Justice is not aware of any pending court action regarding the
Local Government Election at the Federal High Court in Abuja and no
court process has been served to our office.

“I have also confirmed that The State of Osun Independent
Electoral Commission is not aware of any action at the Federal High
Court Abuja and has not been served with any court process.

“Consequently, we have no basis to believe or give credence to
the news which has not been credited to any credible information
source”, he said.

The Local Government Election fixed for January 27, 2018 by the
Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) seems to be in
jeopardy as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the
process.

The presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho, while making a
pronouncement after the submission of the lead counsel to the
plaintiff, Chief Robert Clerk, ordered that status quo ante should
be maintained, pending the hearing of the case proper, and that
every step taken should be in tandem with the dictate of the
constitution.

Tsoho, therefore, adjourned the case till January 28, 2018.

DAILY POST gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun
had instituted an action against the ruling All Progressive
Congress (APC), over what it termed as “illegality in the process
of establishing Local Council Development Areas” (LCDAs).

According to the timetable released by OSIEC, the total of the
37 LCDAs were to participate in the election slated for
January.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government in its reaction, through
the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr.
Ajibola Bashir debunked such a court process, saying it was not in
any way aware of such litigation.

“Our attention has been drawn to a news circulating to the
effect that a Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped all processes
regarding the Local Government Election in the State of Osun
scheduled to hold on 27th January, 2017.

“The Office of the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner
of Justice is not aware of any pending court action regarding the
Local Government Election at the Federal High Court in Abuja and no
court process has been served to our office.

“I have also confirmed that The State of Osun Independent
Electoral Commission is not aware of any action at the Federal High
Court Abuja and has not been served with any court process.

“Consequently, we have no basis to believe or give credence to
the news which has not been credited to any credible information
source”, he said.