“Osigwe Rages Against Federal High Court’s Role in Osun Election Dispute!”
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has voiced strong objections to the Federal High Court’s involvement in the ongoing local government crisis in Osun State. He expressed concerns over the court’s jurisdiction, questioning the decision of senior lawyers to file cases related to local government administration at the federal level rather than the state high court.
In a telephone interview with The PUNCH, Osigwe pointed to the Federal High Court’s role as a key factor fueling the tensions in Osun State, stating, “What is the business of the Federal High Court in giving decisions one way or the other concerning local government elections in the state? That is the root of the problem in Osun State.”
Afam Osigwe Questions Jurisdiction of Federal High Court Over Osun Local Government Dispute
Osigwe raised further concerns over whether the Federal High Court had the legal authority to determine the validity of laws related to local government elections. He questioned whether it was within the federal court’s purview to make decisions about the validity or invalidity of such laws, asserting that these issues should be handled by the state judiciary instead.
The NBA president’s comments come amid growing political tensions in Osun State, particularly following the conduct of local government elections by the state government. Despite an appeal court ruling which reinstated the previously dismissed APC local government chairmen, the situation has sparked a fierce standoff between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over control of the councils.
Osun Crisis Deepens as NBA President Criticizes Federal Court’s Role in Local Government Matters
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the PDP swore in new party chairmen and councillors after the elections but instructed them to avoid entering local government secretariats to prevent clashes with the reinstated APC officials. The APC, however, remains resolute in its opposition, vowing to take legal and financial actions to stop the newly appointed PDP chairmen from accessing council funds. This includes petitioning banks to freeze the accounts of the councils to prevent the PDP officials from taking control of the finances.
Tensions Soar in Osun as NBA President Challenges Federal High Court’s Handling of Local Elections
The escalating political crisis in Osun is further complicated by the NBA president’s challenge to the Federal High Court’s handling of matters related to local government elections. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle between the PDP and APC over control of the state’s local government councils and the role of the judiciary in resolving the dispute.
As tensions continue to mount, all eyes are on the judicial system, with the NBA calling for a re-examination of the involvement of the Federal High Court in what is fundamentally a state-level matter.
