PDP Rejects Ebonyi Council Poll, Heads to Court

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi has rejected the local government elections conducted in the state, describing the exercise as unconstitutional and lacking genuine political participation.

The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Darlington Onwe, stated this at a news conference in Abakaliki on Sunday.

Onwe described the election as a “mono-party poll”, alleging that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission and the state government failed to provide a level playing field for all registered political parties.

He argued that the election could not produce legitimate local government officials because it was substantially contested by only one political party.

The PDP spokesperson cited Sections 7 and 14 of the 1999 Constitution in arguing that Nigerians were entitled to democratically elected local government councils.

He also referenced a 2024 Supreme Court judgment on democratically elected local government councils.

Onwe further challenged the legality of the two-year tenure provided under the amended Ebonyi State Local Government Law.

He recalled that a previous local government election conducted in Ebonyi in 2024 was nullified by the Federal High Court in October 2025.

According to him, the court had restrained the state government and EBSIEC from conducting another election except in compliance with the Constitution and Electoral Act.

Onwe urged relevant federal agencies to take note of the PDP’s position, warning that councils emerging from an allegedly unconstitutional process could face challenges over access to federal allocations.

He said the PDP would challenge the outcome of the latest election before a competent court.