The Federal High Court in Abakaliki has nullified the
July 2024 local government and councillorship elections conducted by the Ebonyi
State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) for failing to comply with the
Electoral Act.
Delivering judgement, Justice Hillary Oshomah ruled
that the elections were invalid due to disobedience to legal provisions and
ordered EBSIEC and the state government not to conduct any further polls except
in line with constitutional requirements.
The court also granted most of the reliefs sought by
the plaintiffs, Samuel Udeogu and Chief Mudi Erhenede, and issued consequential
orders.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Hamilton Ogbodo and Mudi
Erhenede, hailed the verdict, describing it as a victory for the rule of law.
They noted that a previous court ruling had also nullified the 2022 local
government elections, which the state allegedly ignored.
The lawyers urged the state government and EBSIEC to comply with the new judgement, stressing that the ruling effectively sacks the current local government chairmen in Ebonyi State.
Comments:
Leave a Reply