On Saturday, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) went ahead with the controversial by-elections for local government councillors despite a restraining order issued by the Edo State High Court.
The court had ruled in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after it filed a motion challenging the legality of the planned election.
The by-elections took place across 59 wards within 15 local government areas of the state. However, the exercise was largely boycotted by all political parties, except the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Edo State House of Assembly had initially called for the by-elections, citing the need to fill vacant councillorship positions created by the local government crisis earlier in Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration. However, this motion was met with resistance as the PDP contended that the tenures of the affected councillors remained valid until September 2026.
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Justice Mary Itsueli, presiding as a vacation judge, had earlier issued an order on September 16, 2025, which restrained EDSIEC from proceeding with the elections. This followed an ex-parte motion filed by the PDP, arguing that holding elections would be illegal.
The PDP, in the suit marked No. B/247M/2025, sought judicial review against EDSIEC’s decision. The party claimed that any attempt to declare the councillors’ seats vacant or to conduct elections would contravene the law. Justice Itsueli ruled in favour of the PDP, granting permission for judicial review and suspending all steps towards the by-elections.
