PDP Rejects Ebonyi LG Elections, Vows to Challenge Results in Court
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has rejected the recently conducted local government elections, describing the exercise as a “mono-party poll” and threatening to challenge the outcome in court.
The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Darlington Onwe, made the position known on Sunday during a press conference in Abakaliki.
Onwe alleged that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) and the state government failed to create a level playing field for all registered political parties to participate in the election.
He consequently argued that the exercise could not be regarded as a legitimate democratic election.
PDP cites constitutional provisions
According to the PDP spokesman, the election was conducted in violation of existing court judgments and constitutional provisions governing democratically elected local government councils.
Onwe referred to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a system of democratically elected local government councils.
He also cited Section 14 of the Constitution, which recognises the sovereignty of the people and their participation in governance.
The PDP official argued that an election substantially contested by only one political party could not satisfy the constitutional requirement for democratic representation.
Party challenges local government tenure
Onwe also questioned the legality of the two-year tenure prescribed under the amended Ebonyi State Local Government Law.
He argued that the provision was inconsistent with constitutional requirements and relevant pronouncements of the Supreme Court.
The PDP spokesman referenced the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Others, delivered in July 2024.
He maintained that an election conducted under a law alleged to be inconsistent with the Constitution could not resolve the underlying legal issues.
PDP recalls previous Ebonyi polls
The party also referred to the 2022 Ebonyi local government election, which it said was nullified by the Federal High Court in Abakaliki over alleged breaches of the Electoral Act and failure to provide a level playing field.
According to the PDP, the decision was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal in May 2025.
The party further alleged that EBSIEC conducted another local government election on July 20, 2024, while litigation surrounding the matter was still ongoing.
It said candidates of the ruling party emerged from all 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship positions in that election.
The PDP said the Federal High Court in Abakaliki later nullified the exercise on Oct. 21, 2025.
It further alleged that the court restrained EBSIEC and the Ebonyi Government from conducting another local government election except in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Party raises concern over federal allocations
Onwe warned that the legal dispute could have financial implications for Ebonyi’s local government areas.
He referred to Supreme Court pronouncements concerning democratically elected local councils and argued that councils emerging from a process subsequently declared unconstitutional could face difficulties relating to access to federal allocations.
The PDP therefore urged federal institutions, including the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to take note of its concerns.
The party also appealed to INEC to take note of the situation and called on the state government to comply with outstanding court orders.
EBSIEC denies excluding political parties
Responding to the allegations, Patrick Enyi, Chairman of EBSIEC, said the election was open to all political parties.
Enyi told NAN by telephone that the commission conducted the necessary awareness campaigns and provided opportunities for interested parties to participate.
He said the PDP and other parties that failed to participate had chosen not to take advantage of the opportunity.
However, Enyi did not disclose which political parties participated in the election and did not respond to a subsequent call seeking additional clarification.
APC describes election as competitive
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi also rejected the PDP’s characterization of the exercise.
The state APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, described the poll as a competitive exercise and said political parties that indicated interest were allowed to participate.
He maintained that nothing was done secretly by EBSIEC from the beginning of the electoral process through election day.
Meanwhile, official results of the Ebonyi State local government elections were still being awaited as of Sunday.
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