The Osun State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has appealed to the Federal Government not to withhold the allocation of the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, citing that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has already begun the process of conducting the LG election.

According to Victor Akande, IPAC and Osun State Accord Party Chairman, the OSIEC started the process in January, even before the Federal Government granted autonomy to LGAs.

Akande assured citizens that due processes are in place to prevent the FG from withholding the allocation, and urged them not to panic.

The Osun State House of Assembly has also passed bills to strengthen LG autonomy, including the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment 1) Bill, 2024, and the Osun State Local Government Areas (Creation & Administration) (Amendment 7) Bill, 2024.

The Supreme Court had granted financial autonomy to LGAs, and the FG gave states an ultimatum to elect executives by October 10. If states fail to comply, their allocations may be withheld.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling, urging citizen accountability.

Key stakeholders, including the OSIEC Chairman, Barrister Ashim Abioye, have assured the people of the state that the commission will conduct free, fair, and credible elections.

The political parties have passed a vote of confidence in OSIEC, believing it will conduct a credible, free, and fair election in February, 2025.