- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), publicly apologize to Osun people over their alleged backing of the state’s All Progressives Congress’ (APC) plot to jeopardize the process of the February 22 local government election.
This is coming in reaction to the Appeal Court ruling on Friday which upheld the results of the LG Election while striking out the APC’s request to relist its appeal against the Federal High Court ruling that nullified the controversial September 2022 local government election.
In a press statement issued by its Chairman, Hashim Abioye, OSSIEC recounted how the APC attempted to use Federal influence through the IGP and Attorney General of the Federation to frustrate its effort in conducting the election after manipulating the initial ruling of the Appeal Court.
“In what appeared to be an outlandish postulation and a deliberate manipulation, some saboteurs made attempts to frustrate the conduct of the election by forcing on us a bizzare situation- a false claim of reinstatement and a bogus claim of “NO VACANCY”.
“The dangerous actors had twisted the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on 10th February, 2025, by importing into same what was not therein contained.
“They cleverly invented the word “reinstatement”, then they enlisted and unfortunately got the backing of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun who collaborated together to jeopardize the process of the local government election which was commenced since about a year before these manipulative theatrics.
“OSSIEC office was sealed by the police on the order of the IGP, acting on the “advice” of the AGF. As a matter of fact, the Force Headquarters through the PPRO made a release at the election eve, warning against holding the election.
“It must be noted that the advice of the AGF and the directive by the IGP afforded some political actors the opportunity to fire open threats at the Commission and its staff some hours to the election.
“There were also some incidents of arrest, harassment, intimidation and molestation of some of the staff engaged by the Commission.
“On the order of the IGP, banking on the advice of the AGF, NOT on any court order, OSSIEC premises was sealed up, thank God for our alertness and proactiveness as we sensed all of the game, hence we deployed a strategy by the grace of God, and it worked.
“The election held peacefully and successfully, winners emerged and were duly issued certificate of returns.
“The AGF and the IGP for obvious reasons, ignored a subsisting decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal by a political party in yet another judgment which nullified the 2022 Osun State local government elections.
“Sadly again, they both derided and encouraged the derision of a valid judgment of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa which declared that vacancies existed and that OSSIEC should go ahead to fill the vacancies across all the local council areas of Osun State.” Hashim said.
The OSSIEC Chairman maintained that the Appeal Court’s ruling today vindicated their conviction despite being subjected to condemnation.
“This to us was a vindication of our conviction and a validation of our action, all along.
“Our commitment to due process and rule of law was turned against us by political actors unfortunately backed by some super political powers and persons in authority.
“We suffered condemnations, tribulations and accusations in the hands of manipulators. Alhamdulillah today, the siege is over.” He said.
Hashim charged the IGP and AGF to tender apology to Osun people, stressing that make good their position by offering good advice and instruction conscientiously and appropriately.
“I wish to highlight further that the AGF and IGP owe the people of Osun State sincere apologies. They can make good their position by offering good advice and instruction conscientiously and appropriately.
“I thank all genuinely concerned persons and stakeholders in the electoral process, and of course the people of Osun State for their patience and perseverance all these days.
“The judgement of the Court of Appeal today has brought reliefs after so much pains inflicted by desperate actors.
“The siege is now over and we can all sing songs of praises to God for seeing us through the due electoral process we embarked upon which was a standard gauge for integrity, transparency and credibility. The siege is now over.” He added.