BREAKING NEWS LG Poll: Osun Govt Vindicated as APC Withdraws Reinstatement /No-Vacancy Suit at Federal High Court

 BREAKING NEWS

LG Poll: Osun Govt Vindicated as APC Withdraws Reinstatement /No-Vacancy Suit at Federal High Court

Amidst Supreme Court ruling on local government election, Osun state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has hurriedly filed a notice of discontinuance on its case seeking declaration that there is no vacancy at the local government level and a reinstatement of its Yes/No Chairmen.

The case filed before the local government election sought a declaration and an order that there is no vacancy and so local government elections should not be held in Osun state.

The case was ongoing when the Supreme Court ruled that the Rivers state local government election was illegally conducted and therefore null and void.

The Court had held that the election in Rivers was conducted without complying with the letters of the electoral act which stipulates one year notice of election.

 The APC had filed the case relying on the Court of Appeal ruling in Akure which had no consequential orders and ignored the APP judgement which sacked its Yes/No Chairmen.

The APC case was filed and heard at the same Federal High Court which had sacked the APC council chairmen.

When the case came up for hearing, the APC suddenly filed a withdrawal notice, raising questions on why the sudden change of action

An APC  lawyer in know of the case confided that “the Supreme Court ruling on Rivers local election was a direct verdict on the APC case in Osun.

“The SC position is a reality and we cannot push the no vacancy case any further. The matter is complicated.

“So we need to withdraw the case because the ruling is surely likely to be against us. I am not a politician.  We will brainstorm on the way forward “, the.lawyer said anonymously.

The case was eventually struck out by the Federal High Court.

A government lawyer who was in court said “ APC has nothing to present before the court because the APP case subsists. No court of law has vacated the sacking of the APC chairmen.

“When the court of appeal struck out the APC case for lack of diligent prosecution, the APC could not proceed to the Supreme Court because the party was aware the Supreme Court would rule against it . Now the Supreme Court has ruled on Rivers. 

“The Supreme Court would have delivered a ruling against Yes /No chairmen if the case had gone to the Supreme Court. The APC avoided the Supreme Court and decided instead to resort to self help”, the Barrister noted.