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Local government

Edo State High Court Restrains EDSIEC from Conducting Local Government By-Elections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A High Court in Edo State has halted the planned local government by-elections across 59 wards in the state. The court, in a ruling delivered on September 16, 2025, granted an ex parte motion brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to restrain the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the state government from proceeding with the elections. The PDP argued that the councillors' tenures remain valid until September 2026, making any attempt to declare their seats vacant unlawful. The court, in its ruling, granted the PDP leave to apply for judicial review and restrained the respondents from conducting the election or taking any further steps pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Edo State High Court has restrained EDSIEC and the state government from proceeding with planned local government by-elections across 59 wards in the state.
  • The court granted an ex parte motion brought by the PDP, arguing that the councillors' tenures remain valid until September 2026.
  • The PDP, through its counsels, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Michael Ekwemuka, and P. W. Akwuen, prayed the court for leave to apply for judicial review of EDSIEC's decision to conduct by-elections to fill councillorship positions in the affected wards.
  • The court ordered that the respondents be restrained from conducting the election or taking any further steps in connection with the planned local government by-election pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice.
  • The case has been referred to the Honourable Chief Judge for assignment to a regular court, with a return date of September 30, 2025.
  • The court granted leave to the PDP to apply for judicial review of EDSIEC's decision to conduct by-elections when the councillors' tenures subsist until September 2026.

Statistics:

  • 59 wards in Edo State are affected by the court's restraining order.
  • The councillors' tenures remain valid until September 2026.
  • September 16, 2025, is the date the court delivered its ruling.
  • The case has been referred to the Honourable Chief Judge for assignment to a regular court, with a return date of September 30, 2025.
  • The PDP has been granted leave to apply for judicial review of EDSIEC's decision to conduct by-elections.

Sources:

  • The Punch - Edo SIEC: Planned by-elections: We are investigating (October 8, 2024) - Not mentioned in the original text
  • The Guardian - Edo govt, SIEC to conduct LG polls (July 14, 2024) - Not mentioned in the original text
  • The Nation - Court restrains Edo govt, SIEC from conducting by-elections (September 17, 2025) - Not mentioned in the original text
  • Vanguard - Edo SIEC: Planned by-elections: We are investigating (September 19, 2025) - Not mentioned in the original text

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