The All Progressives Congress (APC) has instituted a suit against Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Osun Division of the Federal High Court for allegedly appointing a member of the Peoples Democratic Party as the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
In the suit No. FHC/OS/CS/2/2024, filed by APC counsel Ayodele Kusamotu and obtained by journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, the opposition party in the state asked the court to set aside the appointment of Hasim Abioye as OSIEC chairman.
Also joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun.
Others are the speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hasim Akintunde Abioye, the appointed OSIEC chairman and Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The APC, in the supporting affidavit signed by Waheed Adeniran, the assistant secretary in Osun, contended that “the nomination and appointment of a partisan person as the chairman of the state electoral body offend law and would not guarantee credible local government elections in the state.
“That the new chairman, having been a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, will not be neutral and impartial in the local government election processes.
“That Governor Adeleke (the third defendant) cannot validly and legally nominate and forward the name of Hasim Abioye, OSIEC chairman (the seventh defendant), a bonafide member of his registered political party to the fifth and sixth defendants for screening and confirmation and to be appointed by him as the chairman of the 8th defendant, OSIEC,” it said.
The party further urged the court to give an order setting aside or nullifying the appointment of the OSIEC chairman and removing him from office and position, among other requests.
When contacted, the Osun APC chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, confirmed that the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja instituted the suit.
Opposition political parties in Osun had vehemently criticised the appointment of Mr Abioye since he was nominated, confirmed and appointed by Mr Adeleke as the chairman of OSIEC in November 2023
(NAN)
