PDP rejects planned conduct of by-election into councillors’ seat in Edo

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the plan by the State Independent Electoral Commission, (EDSIEC), to conduct by-election into all the wards across the state where elected councillors have allegedly abandoned their seats.
Peoples Daily reports that the party broke silence on the issue yesterday, exactly a week when the Edo State House of Assembly, mandated the State Independent Electoral Commission, (EDSIEC), to conduct the by-election.
The party declared the election illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant disregard of a subsisting court order.
A statement by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary, Caretaker Committee of the party in the state opined that those parading themselves as the organizers of the by-election are unknown to law and lack the authority or powers to conduct elections of this nature.
Nehikhare, who said the party and well-meaning citizens of the state rejected and condemned the alleged illegality in its entirety, called on the state government to retrace its steps, respect the rule of law, and desist from plunging the state into an avoidable political crisis.
According to him, even more worrisome is the fact that Edo State already has duly elected councillors who are currently serving in the 192 wards across the state.
“Their tenure lawfully expires in September 2026, and no contrived process can truncate this democratic mandate.
“It is unfortunate and deeply disturbing that the Edo State Government and its agents have continued to run the state in open breach of the law, in utter contempt of judicial pronouncements, and in total disregard for democratic norms.
“We view this action as nothing short of a civilian coup against the people of Edo State. It is an attempt to seize control of our councils by hook or by crook, thereby undermining the will of the people and destabilizing grassroots governance.
“Democracy must be defended, and the people’s mandate must not be sacrificed on the altar of desperation”, he stated.
The State House of Assembly had in August 25, 2025 passed a resolution mandating EDSIEC to conduct by-election in all the seats in the 192 wards across the 18 Local Government Areas where the elected councillors allegedly abdicated their democratic responsibilities since January, 2025.
The lawmakers gave three weeks to EDSIEC to conduct the election in which the winners’ tenure would also end alongside those currently in office.