The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22.
The decision was conveyed 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.
According to the letter, the party’s withdrawal follows the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment, which reinstated its previously elected chairmen and councillors.
“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 is that the seats are no longer vacant,” the letter read.
The APC described the upcoming election as “unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful” in light of the court ruling.
However, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained that the Court of Appeal judgment did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022. The dispute led to violent clashes on Monday as both parties laid claim to local government secretariats across the state.
Police authorities confirmed that six people were killed and several others injured in the unrest.
