The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22.
The decision, communicated in a letter dated February 17, was signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the State Independent Electoral Commission.
According to the letter, the APC’s withdrawal is based on the February 10 ruling by the Court of Appeal in Akure, which reinstated its previously sacked chairmen and councillors.
The letter reads:
"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 this judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as allowed by the Appeal Court. The implication is that the seats are no longer vacant."
"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 February 10 Court of Appeal ruling has intensified the political rivalry between the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). While the PDP maintains that the judgment did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors, the APC insists that its officials have the legal right to reclaim their positions in local government offices.
This dispute escalated into violence on Monday when members of both parties attempted to take control of various local government secretariats across the state.
According to police reports, six people lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries in the clashes.
With tensions running high, the withdrawal of the APC from the election further adds to the political uncertainty in Osun State.
