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ABUJA, Nigeria — Accord Party, Ogun State, has taken legal action against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) over the exclusion of its candidates from the 2024 Local Government Elections.
The party, led by Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael, filed a lawsuit with Suit No. AB/857/2024, seeking damages for alleged deliberate and unlawful omission of its candidates from the election process.
This information was contained in a statement by the party on Thursday.
In the statement, the party expressed its frustration over the exclusion, which it claims caused significant distress, wasted resources, and undermined its democratic rights.
The statement also noted that, despite repeated efforts to resolve the issue, including formal communications from ACCORD and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Ogun State, OGSIEC ignored the party’s concerns.
These communications were supported by documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed the legitimacy of ACCORD’s candidates, yet the electoral body refused to acknowledge them.
The state party chairman, Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael, noted that the exclusion of ACCORD candidates has raised suspicions of political bias, with critics suggesting that the action was a targeted effort to undermine
He stated, “The party has filed a writ, with Suit No. AB/857/2024, for damages against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for deliberately excluding its legitimate candidates from participating in the purported ‘concluded’ 2024 Local Government Elections.
“Despite numerous attempts at resolution before the said elections, including formal communications from ACCORD Ogun State to OGSIEC and that of the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Ogun State, among many others, the electoral body continued to ignore these concerns.
“These communications were supported by several key documents, such as the lists of State Chairmen of Political Parties, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters in Abuja and their Ogun State office.
“Despite these irrefutable proofs, OGSIEC refused to acknowledge the rightful candidates of ACCORD, leading to unnecessary public disgrace, the wastage of resources, time, and strength for the party.
“The seemed deliberate actions of OGSIEC raise concerns of possible political bias, which many have perceived as a targeted effort to undermine the state chairman of ACCORD Ogun State, Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael.
“ACCORD Ogun State continues to place its full trust in the Nigerian judiciary system, especially in Ogun State, to deliver justice and rectify this wrong.
“Justice will ultimately prevail, and ACCORD Ogun State believes that the truth will come to light.”
