The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State chapter has declared that any by-election held by the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to replace the state’s elected council members is unlawful and in violation of the law.
According to the BASEMEDIA , on August 25, 2025, the Edo State House of Assembly ordered EDSIEC to hold a by-election to fill all of the councillorship seats purportedly left empty by the elected council legislators in each of the state’s 192 wards spread across 18 LGUs.
According to a party statement provided to reporters in Benin City on Tuesday, on July 22, 2025, Justice A.A. Adewemimo of the National Industrial Court, Benin Division, issued a restraining order requiring the claimants and respondents to maintain the status quo.
The sacked EDSIEC are the claimants.
The former governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration appointed six members of the electoral commission, including the chairman, Justice James Uyi Oyomire (rtd.).
According to the statement, which was signed by Chris Nehikhare, the state’s PDP Caretaker Committee’s publicity secretary, the EDSIEC’s mandate to hold the by-election is the focus of an ongoing legal dispute.
According to Nehikhare, Justice A.A. Adewemimo of the National Industrial Court, Benin Division, is presently considering the case involving Suit No. NICN/B/03/2025, which was filed by the former members of the EDSIEC. He went on to say that the order specifically instructed all parties to keep things as they were until the issue was resolved.
He warned that any election conducted under the present electoral umpire would be illegal, null, void, and of no effect.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State Chapter, once again calls the attention of the Edo people, the judiciary, and the public to the blatant illegality being committed by the State Government led by Monday Okpebholo in its desperate attempt to hold a kangaroo bye-election for local councils,” the statement said.
We would like to remind everyone involved that the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, or EDSIEC, which is currently being used as the electoral umpire, is under investigation by Justice A.A. Adewemimo of the National Industrial Court, Benin Division.
“On July 22, 2025, the National Industrial Court, Benin Division, issued a restraining order in Suit No. NICN/B/03/2025, which was filed by the former EDSIEC Chairman, Hon. Justice James Uyi Oyomire (rtd.), and six other constitutionally appointed members.
“That order specifically instructed all parties to keep things as they are while the issue is being resolved.
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