A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has reserved judgment in a lawsuit seeking to nullify the local government and councillorship elections conducted in the state on July 20, 2024.

The suit was filed by two Ebonyi indigenes, Samuel Udeogu and Isu Amaechi, challenging the validity of the elections based on alleged non-compliance with electoral regulations.

This case follows a previous ruling where the Federal High Court had nullified local government elections conducted during former Governor David Umahi's administration for failing to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. Umahi now serves as the Minister of Works.

The Ebonyi State government had previously contested the Federal High Court's decision by obtaining a contradictory judgment from the State High Court that upheld the elections. However, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ultimately affirmed the Federal High Court's original nullification.

In the current case before Justice H.I.O. Ochoma, the defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Governor Francis Nwifuru, and the state government.

During Tuesday's hearing, Chief Mudi Erhenede, counsel to the second plaintiff, urged the court to nullify the 2024 local government election with substantial costs. He argued that the election failed to comply with the previous ruling of the Enugu Court of Appeal regarding the 2022 local government elections in Ebonyi.

Erhenede further contended that appeals filed by Governor Nwifuru and the state government against Justice Fatun Riman's earlier judgment are directly connected to the current case before Justice Ochoma.

In response, I.N. Nwideagu, representing the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission and the state government, asked the court to dismiss the plaintiffs' arguments and rule in favor of the defendants with punitive costs.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Ochoma reserved judgment for a date that will be communicated to all parties involved in the suit.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for local governance in Ebonyi State, potentially affecting the legitimacy of elected officials at the local government level.

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