Why PDP Boycotted LG By-Elections In Edo – Aziegbemi
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained its decision to boycott the local government by-elections purportedly organised by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), describing the exercise as “illegal and contemptuous of the judiciary.”
State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said on Saturday that the by-elections scheduled across 59 wards in the state were a direct violation of a subsisting court order restraining EDSIEC and the state government from conducting them.
According to him, “Only last week, the Edo State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Itsueli, ordered that the seats of duly elected councilors subsist until September 2026.
“The court categorically restrained EDSIEC from going ahead with any such election. For the state government to ignore this order and proceed is alarming.”
He warned that security agencies must not lend legitimacy to the process, stressing that any participation would amount to aiding contempt of court.
“The tenure of the elected council chairmen and councilors has not expired. We have five court judgments affirming this. To now conduct a by-election is unlawful, and the PDP will not be part of such illegality,” he said.
Aziegbemi alleged that the exercise was nothing more than a ploy to siphon public funds.
“It is just a waste of taxpayers’ money to share among APC leaders. Most political parties in the state are not participating because they know it has no legal basis,” he added.
The PDP chairman said the party would instead focus on strengthening its structures through ongoing congresses and preparing for the 2027 general elections.
