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APC PULLS OUT OF OSUN LG POLL
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has pulled out of the local government elections set for Saturday, February 22.
This decision was communicated in a letter dated February 17, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and sent to the Secretary of the State Independent Electoral Commission.
A copy of the letter, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Osogbo, indicated that the APC’s withdrawal was due to the February 10 Court of Appeal ruling, which reinstated its chairmen and councillors.
The letter read: “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 the judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as allowed by the Appeal Court.
“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment, as cited above, 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.”
A conflict erupted between the APC and PDP over the Court of Appeal ruling concerning the dismissed APC council chairmen and councillors.
The PDP argued that the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment in Akure did not reinstate the APC chairmen and councillors who were removed, while the APC maintained that they should be restored to their positions at the local government secretariats.
The situation escalated on Monday when both parties claimed authority over local government secretariats across the state.
The police reported that six people were killed and many others were injured during the clash.