* Governor Ademola Adeleke voting
By Yinka Olopade
Saturday February 22, 2025
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The local government election in Osun State held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, was peaceful, according to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports.
However, the election witnessed a poor turnout throughout the state.
The State Governor, Ademola Adeleke went out early to his polling booth to cast his vote.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the election in some local governments, reported that ad hoc staff of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) were not present in polling units visited.
As of 9:15 a.m., some of the polling units in Osogbo, located at Ogo-Oluwa, Alekuwodo, Olaiya, and Oja-Oba, among others, were devoid of the electorate, OSSIEC staff, and security personnel.
NAN also observed that the voters’ list was not displayed when some polling units were visited.
However, the election occurred in units 18, 19, and 20, Ward 4, Ataoja D.
Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered vehicular movement restricted from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. across the state. However, this was not complied with, as vehicular movement was free without any form of restriction.
NAN, however, also observed that the police had roadblocks along the major roads.
Similarly, in Ile-Ife, there was no sign of the electorate or OSSIEC ad hoc staff visiting some polling units.
However, shops, markets, and other shopping malls were under lock and key.
In Ede, the hometown of the governor, the situation was a bit different.
The electorate was seen in some of the polling units visited with OSSIEC ad-hoc staff attending to them.
At Obalaoye Grammar School, Unit 2 Ward 4, some electorate were seen in the queue at 8:00 am waiting to cast their votes.
Also, Oloba Atapara Ward 1, unit 6 witnessed a few electorates waiting to be accredited and to cast their votes.
One of the electorates, Nifemi Akingbala, said that the process had been peaceful and urged all voters to cast their votes without fear.
Akingbala commended the electoral umpire for making the process peaceful.
Another electorate, Mrs Idowu Aminat, said she cast her vote at 8:20 a.m.
Aminat commended the peaceful conduct of the election.
At Alajue 1, Ward Unit 8, voting ended at 8:56 a.m.
The presiding officer at the unit, Emmanuel Olayiwola, said the election started at 8:30 a.m.
Olayiwola, however, said that the election was generally peaceful.
Also, some electorate were seen around the place at 150A Station Road, Ward 8, Unit 6.
The presiding officer, John Olawale, said the election ended at 8:30 am.
Olawale said that the electoral body was in the process of sorting out the votes for counting.
NAN also observed that elections concluded early in most of the polling units in the town.
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly speaker, Adewale Egbedun, cast his vote at unit 5 Ward 9 Asi in Odo-Otin LGA.
Egbedun, after casting his vote, commended OSSIEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.
The speaker commended the electorate for standing firm on the side of the law.
He assured the electorate that the election would reflect the people’s will.
Egbedun also commended the electorate for coming out en mass to cast their votes.
* Court orders OSIEC to conduct elections, declares all 30 LG seats vacant
Meanwhile, an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Friday ordered the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
This was as Governor Ademola Adeleke on Friday, insisted that the local government election scheduled for Saturday will be held unfailingly under the supervision of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
The Governor made the assertion while receiving a delegation of civil society coalition who are in the state to monitor the local government elections.
In an enrollment order brought before Justice A. Aderigbigbe by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against OSIEC and Its Chairman, Hashim Abioye, the court ruled that there was a vacancy in the 30 local government areas of the state as held by the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The court stated that the election conducted by the first defendant on 15th October 2022 had been invalidated, nullified, and voided, and the purported elected officials produced by the purported election had been sacked by the Federal High Court.
The court further directed and compelled all the security agencies, comprising the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante group among others in the state to provide adequate security during and after the election.
Meanwhile, the Police said they received credible intelligence indicating a high likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.
The Police also averred that joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, were mobilizing to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic order.
A statement by Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, stressed that given this imminent threat to security, the Police strongly advised the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability.
According to him, the Force has assessed the current security landscape and determined that proceeding with the elections under these volatile conditions could escalate into widespread unrest, endangering lives and property.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, is fully prepared to take decisive action to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“However, to avert unnecessary confrontation and safeguard the democratic process, it is in the best interest of all stakeholders that the elections be stand down.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi had equally advised that the election be postponed.
Fagbemi explained the extant judicial pronouncements concerning Local Government administration in Osun State with regards to the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 22nd of February 2025 which stands to have nullified the Federal High Court’s previous decision and reinforces the position that the elections, as presently contemplated, lack a firm legal foundation,” he said.
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