Court says no to postponement of Ogun Council Polls

 

The Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, the State capital, has struck out  prayers made by 16 Political Parties in the State, seeking to postpone the proposed  Local Government Elections indefinitely. 

Delivering judgment in AB/577/2024 Action Alliance & 15 Ors v. OGSIEC & Anor, the presiding Judge, Hon Justice T A Okunsokan,  rejected the claims of the political parties that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) had acted unilaterally and dictatorially by fixing the date of the Local Government elections without first consulting the political parties. 

Justice Okunsokan, unequivocally held that there was no provision in the constitution or the relevant electoral laws that required OGSIEC to consult political parties before fixing dates of elections. 

The court also found that the claim of the parties that Ondo State Gubernatorial  elections would hold on the same day as Ogun Local Government elections is not a legitimate reason for asking the court to compel OGSIEC to postpone elections in the State.

The court thereby maintained status quo ante on the earlier announced date for the  Ogun State Local Government elections slated for 16th November, 2024.