Breaking: Ebonyi Council Polls Cancelled As Court Declares Election Illegal

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, nullified the 2024 local government election that produced the 13 council chairmen and their councillors, declaring the process unconstitutional.

Delivering judgment, Justice H.I.O. Oshoma ruled that the election conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) violated key provisions of the Electoral Act, rendering the entire exercise invalid.

The court subsequently voided the poll and its outcomes, directing EBSIEC and the Ebonyi State Government — listed as the 2nd and 3rd respondents — to refrain from conducting any further local government elections unless done in full compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Granting most of the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, represented by counsels Hamilton Ogbodo and Chief Mudi Erhenede, the court issued a consequential order reinforcing its verdict.

Reacting to the judgment, Ogbodo, counsel to the 1st plaintiff, Samuel Udeogu, commended the court’s decision, stating:

“In effect, the local government election held in July 2024 in Ebonyi State has been annulled. The court has done what the law requires. We expect the respondents to obey the judgment. The chairmen stand sacked as ordered by the court.”

He further noted that the window for appeal remains open, emphasizing that the plaintiffs will take further action once the appeal period lapses.

It is worth noting that the same court had previously nullified the August 2022 local government elections in Ebonyi State for similar reasons, citing non-compliance with electoral laws.