Edo PDP Rejects LG By-Election, Cites Court Order

Edo PDP Rejects LG By-Election, Cites Court Order.
⁠Party alleges the exercise is a cover for misuse of public funds.
⁠PDP vows to focus on internal restructuring and 2027 elections.

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the conduct of the local government by-elections held on Saturday, calling it a blatant violation of a standing court order.

Eko Hot Blog reports that speaking in Benin City, the State Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, faulted the decision of the Edo Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to go ahead with the election despite a ruling from the Edo State High Court restraining such an exercise.

According to Aziegbemi, the court had ruled that the tenure of the elected councillors should remain valid until September 2026.

He said the same judgment also clearly barred EDSIEC from organising any election to fill those positions.

“The court was explicit that the councillors’ seats remain valid and no election should be conducted. For the government and EDSIEC to flout this order is shocking and unacceptable,” Aziegbemi stated.

He further warned security agencies against giving legitimacy to the process, adding that the PDP refused to participate in the election to avoid being part of what he called a contempt of court.

“The tenure of these officials is still running. We have five separate court judgments confirming this.
What EDSIEC has done is unlawful and unacceptable,” he added.

Aziegbemi also alleged that the by-election was a façade designed to misappropriate public resources, and reaffirmed that the PDP would rather focus on rebuilding its structures and preparing for the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the by-elections were conducted by EDSIEC across 59 wards in 18 local government areas after the Edo State House of Assembly declared the affected councillorship seats vacant, citing prolonged absenteeism of the previous councillors.