By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has rejected the Saturday August 22nd, 2026 local government election by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), describing it as unconstitutional and a contempt of subsisting court judgments.
The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Darlington Peter Onwe, said in a press statement that the election was “not an election at all,” alleging that it was being conducted on a defective legal foundation and without genuine multi-party participation.
Onwe cited previous court judgments nullifying Ebonyi local government elections and alleged that a Federal High Court judgment delivered in October 2025 restraining EBSIEC and the state government from conducting another poll without complying with the Constitution and Electoral Act remains in force.
The PDP also challenged the two-year tenure prescribed under the state’s local government law, arguing that it conflicts with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on democratically elected local government councils.
The opposition party called on EBSIEC to suspend the poll, amend the local government law and ensure transparent participation by all registered political parties.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant federal financial authorities to take note of the development, while warning that it would challenge the election in court and pursue contempt proceedings against those who proceed with the exercise.