The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, along with 19 of its candidates, has filed a lawsuit against Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) over the disqualification of the candidates from the upcoming local government elections. This legal action, registered as suit No. Hos/184/2024, involves the Osun State Attorney General as a co-defendant.
The plaintiffs, represented by their legal counsel, claim that OSSIEC’s refusal to accept the substitution of the candidates’ names led to their disqualification. They are requesting the court to deem the electoral processes leading to the February 2025 elections as illegal and void.
In their petition, the APC and the candidates are seeking damages of N100,000,000.00 for the public embarrassment and trauma caused by OSSIEC’s actions. They argue that they were denied the opportunity to appeal their disqualification due to the failure of the defendants to establish the Local Government and Area Council Election Tribunal.
The claimants assert that this failure has rendered OSSIEC’s actions—and the preparations for the February 2025 elections—invalid under the law. Their legal arguments reference Sections 13, 15, and 24(1) of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2022, questioning the authority of OSSIEC to amend a previously issued Notice of Elections midway through the election process.
The claimants are also asking the court to declare OSSIEC’s amended notice of the 2025 Local Government Elections illegal, asserting that it does not comply with legal requirements regarding proper notice periods.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns over the electoral process in Osun State as key political figures seek legal recourse to ensure their participation in the forthcoming elections.
