A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, on Thursday granted application by the Peoples Democratic Party seeking to amend its earlier suit instituted against the October 15 local government election in the state.
The application opposed by the Independent State Electoral Commission was allowed to sail through by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, who said the amendment to the originating summons would not change the complexion of the pending suit.
The PDP had approached the court with an originating summons seeking to stop the conduct of the local government poll.
The matter is still pending before the court.
Meanwhile, the party through its counsel, Hashim Abioye, on Thursday told the the court that the new application was seeking to bring into focus the OSSIEC LAW 2022, enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly, while the originating summons seeking to stop the LG poll was pending.
Abioye also argued that the amendment being sought by his client was principally about interpretation of some provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the application of the Supreme Court decision in OSSIEC.v. Action Congress vis-a-vis conduct of Local Government election in the state.
He also submitted that the suit was not a pre-election matter, and urged the court to grant PDP’s reliefs, adding that the amendment would not change the complexion of the case.
But counsel to OSSIEC, Mr. Saka Layonu, objected the application, insisting that the application was over-reaching and capable of changing the complexion of the pending suit.
But Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, in his ruling, okayed the PDP application and allowed the amendment of the suit.
He then adjourned the matter till September 26 for the commencement of hearing of the PDP suit seeking to stop the LG polls.
Reacting, OSSIEC Chairman, Mr. Segun Oladitan, dismissed insinuations that the court has stopped the Commission from conducting the election.
Oladitan in a statement obtained in Osogbo further said, “the Peoples Democratic Party entered an application to amend their originating summons in the Suit No FHC\OS\CS\94\2022 before the court and was opposed by the Second Defendant (OSIEC).
“But after heated arguments by parties in the matter, the court granted their prayer to amend the originating summons and the matter was adjourned to September 26 for hearing.
“It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party had approached the Federal High Court, Osogbo on whether in view of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the Second Defendant, OSIEC can validly conduct the October 15 LG POLLS in the state, a matter which has not been argued at all.
“OSSIEC assures the general public that the Commission is on a full course to deliver a very credible and acceptable Local Government Elections in Osun come October 15, 2022.”
