The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has formally withdrawn from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, following the February 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which reinstated the party’s sacked local government chairmen and councillors.
In a letter dated February 17 and addressed to the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), the APC referenced the Court of Appeal’s ruling as the basis for their withdrawal.
The letter, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, read:
“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. Peoples 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.”
The letter continued: “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.”
The decision comes amidst a growing political dispute between the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the judgment.
While the PDP argues that the ruling did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors, the APC maintains that they have rightfully returned to their positions.
The crisis reached a peak on Monday, with both parties laying claim to local government secretariats across the state. The clashes led to the tragic loss of six lives, with many others reported injured.
