The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, nullified the election of all 13 local government chairmen and 171 councillors in the state.
The court, presided over by Justice H.I.O. Oshomah, declared that the elections conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission in July 2024 failed to meet constitutional and legal standards as prescribed by the Electoral Act.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Samuel Udeogu and Isu Amaechi, represented by their counsels, Mr. Hamilton Ogbodo and Chief Mudi Erhenede. The court granted the majority of the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
Justice Oshomah also issued a consequential order restraining the state from conducting any future local government elections unless they strictly comply with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Mr. Ogbodo commended the judgment, describing it as “a victory for democracy and the rule of law.”
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“In effect, the local government elections conducted in July 2024 in Ebonyi State are null and void. They stand cancelled by the Federal High Court today,” Ogbodo said.
He urged the Ebonyi State Government and EBSIEC to comply with the ruling and return to the legal status quo, while noting that the window for appeal remains open.
On his part, Chief Erhenede accused the state government of a pattern of defying court orders, recalling that a similar judgment by the late Justice Fatun Rilman had nullified the 2022 local government elections, which the government also disregarded.
“This is a question of leaders refusing to obey the rule of law. We hope this time the judgment will be respected,” he stated.
Legal observers say the ruling could have far-reaching implications for governance and political administration in Ebonyi State, as attention now shifts to whether the state government will comply with the decision or file an appeal.
