A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki has sacked all the local government chairmen and councillors who were elected in Ebonyi State during the 2024 council elections. The court declared the polls invalid, describing them as a violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The court ruled that the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) did not conduct the elections in accordance with the law. Justice Riman Fatun noted that the election process lacked fairness, transparency, and credibility, making it unconstitutional and null from the start.

The judgment followed a suit filed by some opposition political parties, who argued that the election was a “one-party affair,” as the ruling party allegedly took control of the entire process. The opposition contended that the lack of proper notice and non-inclusion of other parties violated their rights to participate freely.

Justice Fatun, in his ruling, ordered that all elected council officials vacate their offices immediately. He further directed the Ebonyi State Government to appoint caretaker committees to manage the affairs of the local councils until a proper election is held in line with the law.

This judgment has caused mixed reactions in the state, with many residents praising the court for standing up for democracy, while others fear that the decision could delay governance at the grassroots level. The Ebonyi State Government has yet to issue an official response to the ruling.