APC Boycotts Osun Council Elections, Cites Security Concerns
The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has withdrawn from the local government election scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 22 in the state.
This development was contained 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 newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo stated that the APC will not participate in the election due to the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment, which reinstated its chairmen and councillors.
The letter states: “Recall that the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHF/OS/CS/94/2022 was meritoriously nullified on February 10 by the Court of Appeal in Akure, in appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022 between APC and three others v. People’s Democratic Party and others.
“By the judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as allowed by the Appeal Court.
“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment, as cited above, is that the seats are no longer vacant.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby state that the APC and all its candidates have, by this letter, informed the commission of our withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for February 22.
“The same has become unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful due to this development.”
While the PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal did not reinstate the sacked APC Chairmen and Councillors elected in 2022, the APC insisted on the return of the elected officials to local government office.
Due to the crisis that erupted on Monday when both parties laid claim to local government secretariats across the state, police authorities said that six people were killed and many others injured.