PDP Rejects Ebonyi LG Poll, Says EBSIEC Exercise Is ‘Void Ab Initio’

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebony State chapter, has rejected the local government election being conducted by the Ebony State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), describing the exercise as unconstitutional, legally defective and a violation of subsisting court judgments.

The party made its position known on Saturday, August 22, 2026, during a press conference addressed by its State Publicity Secretary and spokesperson, Darlington Peter Onwe, in Abakaliki, the Ebony State capital.

The PDP alleged that the election could not be regarded as a genuine democratic exercise, claiming that the process was being conducted against the backdrop of previous court judgments nullifying local government elections in the state.

According to the party, the constitutional guarantee of democratically elected local government councils means that the conduct of a local government election must comply with the principles of democratic participation, political competition and the rule of law.

The opposition party cited Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils, as well as Section 14(2), which recognizes popular sovereignty and participation in government.

The PDP also relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Others, arguing that only democratically elected local government councils are constitutionally entitled to recognition and direct receipt of federal allocations.

The party further challenged the legality of the two-year tenure prescribed for local government chairmen and councillors under the Amended Ebony State Local Government Law No. 005, arguing that the provision is inconsistent with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on local government tenure.

It recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had, on August 25, 2022, nullified the local government election conducted in the state on July 30, 2022, over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and denial of a level playing field to contestants.

The PDP said the judgment was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, in May 2025, but alleged that EBSIEC nevertheless conducted another local government and council election on July 20, 2024.

According to the party, the 2024 election was also nullified by the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, on October 21, 2025, with the court allegedly sacking the 13 local government chairmen and 171 councillors elected through the exercise.

The party further claimed that the court restrained EBSIEC and the state government from conducting another local government election except in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, alleging that the order remained subsisting.

Describing the alleged conduct of another election despite the court order as a contempt of court and an assault on the rule of law, the PDP warned that any local government structure produced through what it described as a defective process could face legal and financial consequences.

The party also raised concerns over the possible impact of the dispute on federal allocations to the state’s 13 local government areas, citing the Supreme Court’s position on democratic legitimacy and local government funding.

The PDP called on EBSIEC to suspend the election and comply with all outstanding judicial pronouncements affecting local government administration in the state.

It also urged the Ebony State Government to amend the relevant local government law to bring the tenure of elected council officials into conformity with the Constitution and ensure what it described as transparent and verifiable participation by all registered political parties.

The party further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of the development and urged relevant federal agencies responsible for the administration of public funds to ensure compliance with applicable judicial decisions.

The PDP said it reserved its right to challenge the election in court and pursue contempt proceedings against individuals or authorities it believes proceeded with the exercise in conscious disregard of subsisting judicial pronouncements.

Onwe maintained that the party’s position was not merely political but was rooted in what he described as constitutional provisions, judicial precedents and the need to protect democracy and the rule of law in Ebony State.

The PDP spokesperson urged stakeholders to prioritize the interests of the people and ensure that local government administration in the state is anchored on a lawful, credible and genuinely democratic electoral process.