Court gavel
Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki has nullified the July 2024 local government elections in Ebonyi State, removing all 13 local government chairmen and 171 councillors from office over what it described as a violation of the Electoral Act.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hilary Oshomah ruled that the election conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) failed to meet constitutional and statutory requirements.
According to the judge, the entire exercise was marred by irregularities and a clear disregard for the provisions laid out in the Electoral Act.
As a result, the court declared the outcome of the election invalid and ordered EBSIEC — alongside the state government — to conduct fresh elections in accordance with the law.
“The process that brought these officials into office was fundamentally flawed and cannot stand,” Justice Oshomah said in his ruling.
He added that adherence to electoral laws is non-negotiable, especially at the grassroots level where governance directly affects the people.
Speaking to journalists after the verdict, Hamilton Ogbodo, counsel to the first plaintiff Samuel Udeogu, hailed the ruling as a victory for democracy.
“In essence, the local government elections conducted in July 2024 are null and void. The court has rightly restored the rule of law,” Ogbodo said.
“We expect the respondents to obey the judgment. If they choose to appeal, we will wait for that process to play out, but as of now, the court’s decision stands.”
Ogbodo also stressed that the judgment reflects what is already “clearly written in the law,” urging EBSIEC and the state government to revert to the status quo and prepare for new, lawful elections.
Mudi Erhenede, representing second plaintiff Isu Amaechi, also welcomed the court’s decision.
He commended Justice Oshomah for what he called a well-reasoned and timely judgment.
“We look forward to receiving a certified copy of the judgment soon. This is a major step in defending electoral integrity in Ebonyi State,” Erhenede said.
The ruling has thrown the state’s local government administration into uncertainty, pending compliance with the court’s directive or any possible appeal by the affected parties.
