The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun State has withdrawn from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, citing a recent Court of Appeal judgment reinstating its previously sacked chairmen and councilors.
In a letter dated February 17 and addressed to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), APC’s state Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, stated that the party’s participation in the poll had become unnecessary.
The letter referenced the February 10 Court of Appeal, which nullified an earlier Federal High Court decision and restored APC’s elected local government officials to office.
“With this judgment, the elected officers have resumed their positions, and the seats are no longer vacant. Therefore, APC and all its candidates formally withdraw from the scheduled election, as it has become unnecessary and unlawful,” the letter read.
The withdrawal follows ongoing tensions between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over control of local government councils. While the PDP insists the court ruling did not reinstate the APC officials, the APC maintains that its members are the rightful occupants of the offices.
The dispute escalated into violence on Monday as both parties clashed over access to local government secretariats across the state. Police have confirmed that six people lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries.