A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday nullified the local government and councillorship elections that produced the current council chairmen, declaring the exercise unconstitutional.
The court invalidated the polls conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) in July 2024, ruling that the elections violated the provisions of the Electoral Act and failed to comply with due process.
Presiding Judge, Justice Hillary Oshomah, held that the July 2024 local government and councillorship elections in Ebonyi State did not conform to the requirements of the law.
Consequently, the court annulled the elections and barred the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission and the state government—listed as the second and third respondents—from conducting any further local government or councillorship elections except in strict compliance with constitutional provisions.
The court also granted most of the reliefs sought by counsel to the first plaintiff, Samuel Udeogu, represented by Hamilton Ogbodo, and the second plaintiff, Chief Mudi Erhenede, while issuing consequential orders on the matter.
Reacting to the ruling, Ogbodo welcomed the decision, stating, “The local government election held in July 2024 in Ebonyi State no longer exists; it has been nullified by the Federal High Court today.
“If the second and third defendants intend to act lawfully, they must revert to the status quo ante bellum and obey the court order. We are watching to see if they will comply, as the period for filing an appeal is still running.”
He added, “The local government chairmen have been removed by the court’s order. The court has done exactly what the law prescribes—these provisions are clearly stated. It is only when people refuse to obey the law that they attempt to twist its meaning for personal gain.”
Counsel to the second plaintiff, Chief Mudi Erhenede, recalled that a Federal High Court in Abakaliki, presided over by the late Justice Fatun Riman, had earlier nullified the 2022 local government and councillorship elections. He noted that despite that judgement, the state government went ahead to swear in chairmen and councillors across the 13 local government areas and 171 wards.
He further explained that the state government had appealed Justice Riman’s ruling but lost, as the appellate court upheld the earlier decision.
“This shows a pattern of disregard for the rule of law,” Erhenede said. “Even after the 2022 elections were nullified, the government defied the judgement and swore in officials regardless.”
He commended Justice Oshomah for the 2024 ruling and urged the court to release the full judgement promptly.