The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has suspended the state’s Local Government Council elections earlier billed for 19th April, 2022 across 192 wards in the state.
The development, according to the Commission in a statement on Friday, is in line with a Court restraining order barring EDSIEC from proceeding with the exercise.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who granted the motion-exparte, stated that he was of the well considered view that the alleged infraction in the Edo State Electoral Law vis-a-vis the Electoral Act 2022, as canvassed by the plaintiffs, is worth looking at by the court.
The applicants are challenging the validity of the Edo State electoral law which allows for the holding of elections within 15 days from the date of the publication of notice for the conduct of election.
In the grounds of their application, they contend that the state’s law contradicts the Electoral Act 2022 which provides for at least 150 days before election.
Reading his verdict on Tuesday, Justice Taiwo held that the defendants must be restrained in the interim pending the determination of the case.
The judge, subsequently, adjourned to April 14 for hearing on applications filed by the plantiffs.
Although EDSIEC had in its first reaction to the development adjusted its time-table, insisting that the election will go on as planned. But the Commission is now complying with the order, suspending all processes leading to the conduct of the said election pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
