Court overturns Ebonyi local government council election days before swearing-in
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, has overturned local government and council elections that produced All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates as winners in the 13 local state governments.
Elections for the presidency and local government councils were held on July 30.
But according to the judgment, the election conducted last month was canceled for non-compliance with the provisions of the 2022 electoral law.
The court annulled the elections for also making secret the laws under which they were conducted.
Presidents were to be sworn in on September 1 before the Federal High Court judgment.
Otu Collins Eleri, Hon Nelson Eze, Akaa Ikechikwu, Micheal Ali and Isu Amaechi had taken the election arbiter, EBSIEC and the government to court for failing to give all candidates a level playing field during the election.
LSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The Presiding Judge, Judge Fatun Riman, in Case No: FHC/AI/CS/151, declared that it is undemocratic and illegal to hold an election in local government areas or council without assert to plaintiffs the exact law which is intended to regulate the practice.
During his speech, the Council of Plaintiffs, Chief Mudi Erhenede, said that the processes that produced the presidents were not transparent.
Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi's Special Assistant to Chief Media and Strategy Officer, Chooks Oko, said in a statement, "The attention of Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, David N. Umahi, was drawn to the curious decision of the federal government.
"It is recorded that none of the plaintiffs' reasons included the annulment of the election, but the court strangely offered such an order.
"The election generally recognized as peaceful and orderly, produced our new leaders at the local government level who followed all established procedures to the letter.
"Abiding by the law, the Governor directs all Ebonies to go about their business peacefully while our attorneys study the judgment to determine the best course of action.
"His belief in the judiciary as a bastion of justice and fairness remains unwavering."
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, has overturned local government and council elections that produced All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates as winners in the 13 local state governments.
Elections for the presidency and local government councils were held on July 30.
But according to the judgment, the election conducted last month was canceled for non-compliance with the provisions of the 2022 electoral law.
The court annulled the elections for also making secret the laws under which they were conducted.
Presidents were to be sworn in on September 1 before the Federal High Court judgment.
Otu Collins Eleri, Hon Nelson Eze, Akaa Ikechikwu, Micheal Ali and Isu Amaechi had taken the election arbiter, EBSIEC and the government to court for failing to give all candidates a level playing field during the election.
LSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The Presiding Judge, Judge Fatun Riman, in Case No: FHC/AI/CS/151, declared that it is undemocratic and illegal to hold an election in local government areas or council without assert to plaintiffs the exact law which is intended to regulate the practice.
During his speech, the Council of Plaintiffs, Chief Mudi Erhenede, said that the processes that produced the presidents were not transparent.
Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi's Special Assistant to Chief Media and Strategy Officer, Chooks Oko, said in a statement, "The attention of Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, David N. Umahi, was drawn to the curious decision of the federal government.
"It is recorded that none of the plaintiffs' reasons included the annulment of the election, but the court strangely offered such an order.
"The election generally recognized as peaceful and orderly, produced our new leaders at the local government level who followed all established procedures to the letter.
"Abiding by the law, the Governor directs all Ebonies to go about their business peacefully while our attorneys study the judgment to determine the best course of action.
"His belief in the judiciary as a bastion of justice and fairness remains unwavering."
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