Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

A Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, ordered Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission ( OYSIEC), to suspend the planned election into the newly created Local Community Development Authority (LCDAs) pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Some aggrieved members of All Progressive Congress ( APC) from Ibarapa East local government, had approached the court over the creation of new wards, seeking an interim order to suspend the conduct of council poll slated for May 12, 2018 in the state.

Presiding judge, Mrs Joyce Abdul-Malik, in her brief ruling on the motion, granted the prayers of the aggrieved parties, retraining OYSIEC from conducting election into the newly created wards pending the determination of the substantive suit.

But in a swift reaction, OYSIEC said the ruling by the Federal High Court would not stop it from going on with the exercise as planned.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. John Ajeigbe, in a release made available to journalists, said the situation was under control and that the election would go as scheduled.

The interim relief in favour of the aggrieved APC members was made in respect of the new wards' delineation by the state government, restraining OYSIEC from conducting election into the new wards.

It would be recalled that plans by OYSIEC to conduct election into local government area and LCDAs by May 12 is already at the peak.

A similar scenario played out when some Baales in Oyo West, Atiba and Oyo East local governments sought an order restraining the commission from conducting the planned election in 2017 pending the determination of the case which eventually led to shifting the date of the election to May 2018.

However, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olusegun Abimbola, said the government would take immediate step to vacate the order which he claimed was yet to be served on the government.

He said, "The point is that the existing laws in the state forbid any interim order from any court in respect of proceeding to affect the timing of scheduled election by that provision of Section 9 of the Oyo state Independent Electoral Commission law Cap 154 Laws of Oyo state 2000".

OYSIEC Chairman said, “OYSIEC wishes to assure members of the public and all political parties that the recent Court pronouncement instituted by some people in Ibarapa East local government will not according to Oyo State Independent Electoral law, affect the forthcoming local government elections into 33 local government councils and 35 local council development areas of the state come May 12 ,2018.”