The Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has ordered that the local government polls proceed as scheduled, News About Nigeria reports.
The presiding judge, Hon. Justice T. A. Okunsokan, gave this ruling on Tuesday.
He also struck out prayers made by 16 political parties in the state, seeking to postpone the proposed local government elections, slated for November 16th indefinitely.
He rejected the claims of the political parties that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission had acted unilaterally and dictatorially by fixing the date of the local government elections without first consulting the political parties.
The judge held that there was no provision in the constitution or the relevant electoral laws that required the state electoral umpire to consult political parties before fixing the dates of elections.
The court also found that the claim of the parties that Ondo State governorship elections would be held on the same day as Ogun local government elections is not a legitimate reason for asking the court to compel the state Electoral Commission to postpone elections in the state.
It, thereby, maintained the status quo ante on the earlier announced date for the Ogun State local government elections slated for November 16, 2024.
Recall that the 16 political parties had prayed to the court, asking it to postpone the proposed local government elections, slated for November 16th, indefinitely.
They claimed that the Ondo State governorship elections would be held on the same day as the Ogun local government elections, adding that it would not be convenient for voters, and should therefore be postponed.
