Politics
Why we boycotted by-elections in Edo – PDP
Published By
Paul Dada
Date
20th September, 2025
Quick Read
“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.
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, has described Saturday’s local government by-elections organised by the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), as “illegal and contemptuous of the judiciary.”
Aziegbemi stated this while explaining why his party boycotted the by-elections scheduled across 59 wards in the State.
He described the election as a direct violation of a subsisting court order restraining EDSIEC and the state government from conducting them.
“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,” Aziegbemi said.
The Edo PDP chairman who warned that security agencies must not lend legitimacy to the process, stressed 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.
He said the party would instead focus on strengthening its structures through ongoing congresses and preparing for the 2027 general elections.
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