The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has accused some enemies of the rules of law who specialize in feeding the members of the public with fabricated information on the lingering litigation of the major opposition party in the state against the state government and the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) of rumour peddling.
Why would some emissary of rifts be spreading a false information concerning the plethora of suits against the state government and OSSIEC on the conduct of the forthcoming local government council elections?
Contrary to the misleading information released to the public on the 13th January, 2025 which has gone viral, over a purported dismissal of the All Progressives Congress’ Appeal in respect of the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel (Judge) on 25th November, 2022, it is important to set the record straight so as to unveil devilish wool with which the naysayers have attempted to lead the general public into the ditches.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on 27th July, 2022 instituted a Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) & 6 Ors at the Federal High Court, challenging the validity of the Local Government Elections held on 15th October, 2022 in Osun State and same was nullified by the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel on 25th November, 2022.
Dissatisfied by the judgment, the APC appealed the judgment and after several adjournments, the appeal was heard on 14th November, 2024 and judgment has been reserved till date.
Meanwhile, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) at the instance of a party that dares not disclose its identity also instituted another Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 Between: Allied Peoples Movement & 2 Ors v. Action Peoples Party (APP) & 4 Ors on the same subject matter of the Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) & 6 Ors and the same judgment was also delivered nullifying the Local Government Elections held on 15th October, 2022. The Appellants also filed a Notice of Appeal in this one too.
Having two judgments on the same subject matter, the appeal was duly prosecuted on the one instituted by the PDP and judgment has been reserved till date.
The OSSIEC then filed a motion to dismiss the second appeal and that was what was granted by the Appellate Court today 13th January, 2025 which the party had cunningly presented to the public as a dismissal of the APC’s appeal in the main suit.
It is commonsensical that whatever that is decided in the appeal reserved for judgment automatically binds or affects the other judgment same having been determined on the same subject matter.
It is very unfortunate that the very political party that got judgment on the altar of a ground that a notice of election for local government elections has to meet up with the INEC’s 360 days’ requirement has now amended the same OSSIEC Law by reducing the number to 150 days even while the appeal of such a decision that imposes 360 days is still pending.
For the purpose of emphasis, no any appeal was heard on 13th January, 2025 at the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal and the only appeal heard has its judgment reserved till date.
What a very cunning way and gross inconsistencies in governance!
It is in view of the foregoing that we are appealing to the members of the public to be wary of relying on any piece of information coming from these agents provocateur.
e-SIGNED:
Mogaji KOLA OLABISI, Osun State APC Director of Media and Publicity.
