Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the validity of the local government and councillorship elections conducted in the state on July 20, 2024.
Presided over by Justice H.I.O. Ochoma, the court reserved its decision on Tuesday after hearing arguments in the case filed by two indigenes of the state, Mr. Samuel Udeogu and Mr. Isu Amaechi.
The plaintiffs are seeking to nullify the elections, citing alleged violations of electoral laws.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Governor Francis Nwifuru, and the Ebonyi State Government.
The case draws parallels with a similar matter in 2022, when Justice Fatun Riman of the same court nullified the local government elections conducted under the administration of former Governor David Umahi. The court held that the elections failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Dissatisfied with that verdict, the state government obtained a contrary judgment from the Ebonyi State High Court and proceeded to the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, upheld the Federal High Court’s ruling, declaring the 2022 elections invalid.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the second plaintiff, Mudi Erhenede, urged the court to similarly nullify the 2024 elections, arguing that the state failed to comply with the appellate court’s 2022 judgment.
He maintained that the appeals filed by Governor Nwifuru and the state government—listed as the 2nd and 3rd respondents—are directly related to the issues raised in the present suit.
However, counsel to EBSIEC and the state government, I.N. Nwideagu, urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing the plaintiffs’ claims as baseless. He also asked the court to rule in favor of the 2nd and 3rd defendants and to award punitive costs against the plaintiffs.
Following the adoption of final written addresses by all parties, Justice Ochoma reserved judgment, stating that a date would be communicated to the parties in due course.
