Osun announces restriction of vehicular movement ahead LG polls

• The Osun State High Court subsequently ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct the local government election on Saturday.

The Osun state government has announced a restriction on vehicular movement during the forthcoming local government elections.

The elections for chairmanship and councillorship positions will take place on Saturday, February 22, across 30 local government areas and 323 wards.

Governor Ademola Adeleke issued the directive in a statement released on Friday, signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Rasheed stated that the restriction will commence at 5 am and end at 5 pm on Saturday, with security personnel deployed to ensure compliance.

The governor instructed security agencies to enforce the restriction, allowing only accredited voters, media, and civil society organizations to maintain peace and security.

Adeleke emphasized that restricting movement is necessary to prevent “importation of hoodlums into the state amidst local elections.”

Controversy surrounds the local government elections in Osun State, following the court of appeal’s judgment.

Violent clashes between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have marred the election buildup, resulting in loss of life and widespread unrest.

The crisis stems from the court of appeal’s judgment regarding sacked council chairpersons and councillors, who are APC members.

The PDP claims the February 10 judgment did not reinstate the sacked officials, while the APC insists it did.

On Thursday, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi stated that ousted LG chairpersons must be reinstated, as the court of appeal dismissed the lower court’s judgment.

Earlier, Adeleke insisted the LG election would proceed despite the AGF’s advice.

The Osun State High Court subsequently ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct the local government election on Saturday.

In November 2022, Governor Adeleke directed LGA heads to take charge of their councils, citing compliance with a federal high court judgment declaring the previous LG election illegal.