By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially pulled out of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025, citing a recent Appeal Court judgment as the basis for its decision.

The party conveyed its withdrawal in a letter dated February 17, signed by its state secretary, Alao Kamoru, and addressed to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

According to the APC, the ruling of the Appeal Court in Akure effectively reinstated its sacked local government chairmen and councillors, making the planned election unnecessary and illegal.

The opposition party and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been locked in a heated dispute over the court judgment.

While the APC insists that its removed council officials have been lawfully restored, the PDP maintains that no court order mandated their reinstatement.

The letter referenced Appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022, which, according to the APC, nullified the Federal High Court ruling in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 and upheld the legitimacy of its previously elected local government officials.

Part of the letter reads: “By this judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as allowed by the Appeal Court ruling. The implication of the judgment is that the local government seats are no longer vacant.

“In view of this, the All Progressives Congress and its candidates formally notify the Commission of our withdrawal from the local government elections scheduled forFebruary 22, 2025, as the exercise has become unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful in light of this development.”

The APC had been vigorously campaigning across the 30 local government areas of the state before making the unexpected decision to withdraw from the poll.