By-election: Edo PDP to sue EDSIEC, AG for alleged contempt of court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has directed its legal team to commence contempt proceedings against Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the Attorney-General for an alleged defiance to court orders.

Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, said this in a statement on Monday in Benin.

Nehikhare alleged that they flouted subsisting court orders that restrained them from conducting the Sept. 20 local government by-elections.

He accused the electoral body of staging what it described as a “sham exercise, in reckless disregard for the law.”

“Despite clear and subsisting orders of the Edo State High Court and the National Industrial Court restraining them from conducting the election, they defiantly went ahead to stage a sham exercise and, in reckless disregard for the law, are purportedly preparing to declare winners,” he said.

Our correspondent recalls that Justice Mary Itsueli of an Edo High Court, Benin on Sept. 16, restrained the state electoral body from conducting the by-election, saying that the tenures of the affected councillors remained valid until September 2026.

Itsueli ordered EDSIEC and the Edo government “to stay further actions.”

The electoral body, however, went on to conduct by-elections into 59 councillorship seats across 15 local governments, citing the resolution of the state’s House of Assembly, which declared those seats vacant for alleged absenteeism.

Nehikhare described the alleged disobedience as “a direct assault on the judiciary and a calculated attempt to plunge Edo into lawlessness.”

According to him, the actions of EDSIEC and the Attorney-General allegedly represent a betrayal of public trust and “a shameful display of irresponsibility” by officers sworn to uphold the Constitution.

“The deliberate disobedience of lawful court orders by public officers who swore to uphold the Constitution is shameful, irresponsible, and cannot go unpunished,” the party spokesperson alleged.

He stressed that the party would not allow “impostors and collaborators in government” to trample on the rule of law, warning that democracy cannot survive in an environment where court orders are ignored with impunity.

“The courts have spoken. The law must prevail,” he said, assuring Edo residents of the party’s commitment to defend democracy and the judiciary.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Chairman of the commission, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, proved abortive as he declined comment during a telephone call.

Samson Osagie, Attorney General and the state Commissioner for Justice also refused comment when contacted.