The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has announced its withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22. This decision was made known in a letter dated February 17, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen.
The letter stated that the APC would not participate in the election due to the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment, which reinstated its chairmen and councillors. The judgment nullified the Federal High Court’s decision in suit No. FHF/OS/CS/94/2022, allowing the elected officers to resume office.
According to the letter, “The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment… is that the seats are no longer vacant.” Therefore, the APC concluded that its participation in the election would be “unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful”.
This development follows a crisis between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the Court of Appeal judgment. While the PDP claimed that the judgment did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors, the APC insisted on their return to local government secretariats.
The crisis escalated on Monday, resulting in the loss of six lives and scores of injuries as both parties laid claim to local government secretariats across the state. The police have confirmed the casualties and are working to restore order.
The APC’s withdrawal from the election is seen as a significant development, as it had initially indicated its intention to participate. The party’s decision is likely to have implications for the electoral process and the ongoing crisis between the APC and PDP.
In the letter, the APC stated, “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 party’s withdrawal is effective immediately, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the electoral process.
