Police Advise Osun Govt To Suspend LG Poll, Cite Security Threat

The Osun State government has been given a warning by the Nigeria Police Force to postpone the February 22 local government elections.

The Nigeria Police Force advises the Osun State Government to reconsider and suspend the scheduled elections immediately in light of the combination of increased security threats and the existing legal complexities. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, reads a statement on Friday.

Should the planned elections occur, the Police claimed it had received reliable information that indicated a risk of violence and significant security threats.

Adejobi explained that reports from joint intelligence gatherings revealed that various organizations, including political parties, are organising to cause unrest, stifle public order, and stifle democratic order.

READ ALSO: Court Orders Conduct Of Osun LG Polls

The Force, according to the statement, has determined that the current security environment is unstable and that holding elections in these tense conditions could cause widespread unrest, putting lives and property at risk.

The Force, however, restated its preparedness to take decisive action to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

Beyond the security concerns, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice’s legal clarification regarding the pending court of appeal decisions regarding local government administration in Osun State, which are likely to have invalidated the Federal High Court’s earlier decision and reinforce the claim that the elections, as being currently enacted, lack a solid legal foundation, are also important.

The statement read in part as “The NPF reiterates its unwavering commitment to maintaining peace, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that Nigeria’s democratic processes are upheld in accordance with the law.

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) is being ordered to conduct elections for the vacant positions of chairmen and councillors in the state’s 30 local government areas by the Osun State High Court in Ilesa.

The Peoples Democratic Party, one of the participating parties in the election, brought the lawsuit to the court for a sequel.

Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney general of the Federation, requested on Thursday that Osun State’s governor Ademola Adeleke postpone the local government election.

According to the justice minister, the Court of Appeal, Akure division, on February 10, 2025, nullified the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on November 25, 2022.

The appellate court’s decision, according to the AGF, implied that the All Progressives Congress (APC) local council chairmen had been reinstated following their sacking by the lower court.

Source: Channels TV