The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has nullified the July 2024 local government and councillorship elections that produced the state’s 13 council chairmen and their councillors.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice H.I.O. Oshomah ruled that the polls conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, rendering the exercise invalid.
The court consequently voided the elections and restrained EBSIEC and the state government from conducting further local government polls unless they strictly adhere to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Mr. Samuel Udeogu and Mr. Isu Amaechi, represented by counsels Hamilton Ogbodo and Chief Mudi Erhenede, respectively.
Reacting to the judgment, Ogbodo said the decision effectively removed all serving local government chairmen and councillors in the state.
“So, in effect, the local government election conducted in July 2024 in Ebonyi State is no more; it has been cancelled by this Federal High Court today,” he said.
He urged the state government to comply with the court’s directive or risk contempt proceedings once the window for appeal closes.
