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The Action Congress
(AC) has said the plan by the Osun State Government to organise fresh
local government elections would be illegal since the last council
polls have remained nullified by the courts.

In a statement
issued by spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, the party said the government,
led by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has blatantly ignored the Court of
Appeal’s ruling. The court had declared that the last council polls in
the state were illegal because they were conducted without following
regulations, and ruled that the election’s results should not stand.
However, the party said the governor has yet to comply with the
judgement, even though his government’s appeal for a stay of execution
was turned down by the court 18 months ago. “A major threat to our
democracy today is the rising, flagrant disregard for the rule of law,”
stated the party. “This is a recipe for anarchy. If the foundation of
democracy is the rule of law, then we must absolutely obey court
rulings.”

Profiting from illegality

The party said a
major reason the last council polls in the state were declared illegal
was because the government failed to give the prescribed 150 days
notice before the elections were held. It accused the governor’s plan
to give a 150-day notice for the fresh council elections, which it
plans to conduct before the end of its tenure, as a charade.

“We say no to this, because it amounts to profiting from a crass
disobedience of the court,” said the party. “The governor cannot and
must not benefit from being in perpetual contempt of court. It will
send a wrong signal to others like him who willfully disobey court
rulings.” The party subsequently asked the governor to dissolve the
councils in accordance with the court’s ruling. “Anything else would
amount to continuing to make a mockery of the legal system.”