The All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed a lawsuit against Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for allegedly appointing a card-carrying member of his political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The party filed the suit in the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Waheed Adeniran, Assistant Secretary of the Osun APC, urged the court to set aside Hasim Abioye’s appointment as OSIEC Chairman.
Adeniran said this in an affidavit filed in support of the originating summons filed by the party’s lawyer, Ayodele Kusamotu.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice are also named as defendants in the FHC/OS/CS/2/2024 suit.
INEC, the Attorney-General of Osun State and Commissioner for Justice, and the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hasim Akintunde Abioye and OSIEC, were also named as defendants.
APC contended that,
“the nomination and appointment of a partisan person as chairman of the state’s electoral body offends law and will not guarantee credible council elections in which other political parties are expected to participate.”
“the new chairman, having been a card-carrying member of the PDP in the state, will not be neutral and impartial in the election processes.”
“a declaration that the third defendant cannot validly and legally nominate and forward the name of the seventh defendant as a bonafide member of his registered political party, the PDP to the fifth and sixth defendants for screening and confirmation to be appointed as the chairman of the eighth defendant, OSI EC.”
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining seventh and eighth defendants or any of their members or agents or officers or any other person or persons acting on their behalf from conducting local council elections until the seventh defendant is removed from office as the chairman of the eighth defendant.”