*Implements Court Order On Local Government Election
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has ordered the immediate suspension of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and other members of the Commission.
Governor Adeleke has also ordered that all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration of Gboyega Oyetola be put on hold.
The governor has begun the implementation of the Court order by directing the most senior career officers to take charge of the affairs in all the local governments, area offices, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and Area Council Development Areas in the state with immediate effect.
The suspension follows a number of petitions filed against the aforementioned Chairman and Commission members alleging financial irregularities, negligence, absenteeism, and abuse of power.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Tesleem Igbalaye, disclosed that pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against the suspended Chairman and members of the Commission, the Secretary to the Commission shall hold forth in running the affairs of the Commission.
It will be recalled that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) conducted local government elections on October 15, 2022 in the state despite court proceedings against the conduct of the election filed by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has implemented Court order sacking all the elected council chairmen in Osun State.
This was contained in a statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
Rasheed said that the directive from the Governor is in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo that sacked the elected Local Government Chairmen and Councilors in the October 15 Local Government election in Osun State.
Also, Governor Adeleke has also ordered that all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration of Gboyega Oyetola be put on hold.
Adeleke said the measure is to ensure strict compliance with the due process of Chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.
This order was contained in six Executive Orders of the governor issued on Monday and made available to journalists by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed.
The governor also ordered an immediate review of the Chieftaincy appointments.
“All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies,” one of the orders read.
“In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge,” Adeleke said.
