Court Sacks All Ebonyi LGA Chairmen, Councilors

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Abakaliki

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki on Tuesday sacked all the 13 local government chairmen, vice Chairmen and Councilors elected during last year’s council polls in the state.

In a judgment delivered on the suit filled by one of the candidates in the election, Mr Alieze Nweka of Ohaukwu council Area the court ruled that the open ballot system used in the conduct of the exercise was inconsistent with the electoral law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It therefore, cancelled the council elections conducted across the thirteen council areas on September 28, 2013.

The presiding Judge, Justice Mauren Onyetenu, further ruled that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly which adopted the open ballot system acted ultra vires.

According to her, the amendment of the local government law by the state legislators was unconstitutional

Meanwhile, the development has thrown the entire state into confusion.

African Examiner gathered that the affected chairmen have concluded plans to appeal the judgment.