The Federal High Court in Ebonyi State on Tuesday declared the Local Government election conducted in 2024 as “unconstitutional. This is even as that court ordered the 13 Council Chairmen and 171 Councillors to vacate offices.
Recall that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, conducted the State Local Government election in July, 2024.
The court also noted that EBSIEC failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Delivering judgement on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the presiding judge, Justice Hilary Oshomah noted that the election did not conform with the provisions of the electoral act.
Justice Oshomah, therefore, cancelled the elections and urged the EBSIEC and the state government, who were the second and third respondents to conduct further elections with the provisions of the Constitution.
Reacting to the judgement, Hamilton Ogbodo, who is the counsel to the first plaintiff, Mr Samuel Udeogu expressed happiness over the court ruling.
“So, in effect, the Local Government election that was conducted in July, 2024 in the State, is no more there; it has been cancelled by the court.
“If the second and third defendants want to do what the law says they should do, they should revert to status quo and obey the court order.
“We are waiting for them because the time within which they can appeal this judgement is still running. And when it expires, we will know what to do.
“We expect them to obey the court order. The court has done exactly what the law says it should do. Because these things are in black and white,” Ogbodo said.
Also, Mudi Erhenede, counsel to Isu Amaechi, who is the 2nd plaintiff, commended the judgement.
He said, “I commend Justice Oshomah’s ruling on the 2024 Local Government and Councilorship elections in the State. And, I urged the court to make available the judgment within possible time,” Erhenede said.
Source: NAN