The Labour Party in Osun State has announced its withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for today, February 22, 2025.
The party’s chairman, Adebayo Bello, cited inadequate security arrangements by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) as the reason for their withdrawal.
Bello called for the postponement of the election for one or two months to enable OSSIEC to prepare adequately and resolve pending legal issues. The party’s chairmanship candidate, Oyebode Babalola, also expressed concerns about the security arrangements, stating that the party would not participate in the election due to the potential risks.
This development comes after the All Progressives Congress (APC) also pulled out of the election.
Additionally, 16 opposition parties in Osun State had earlier announced their withdrawal from the poll, citing concerns over the electoral process.
The OSSIEC office was reportedly under lock and key on Friday, with journalists denied access to collect accreditation tags.
Efforts to reach OSSIEC Chairman Hashim Abioye were unsuccessful.