The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, has petitioned the State Police Command, urging it to chorus from taking part within the native authorities by-election into the 59 wards being organised by the state’s electoral fee.
DAILY POST experiences that Dr Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo State PDP Caretaker Committee, wrote the petition to the Commissioner of Police within the Command.
The letter, dated September 19, 2025, is titled: “Re: Request to Chorus From Participation in Unlawful Native Authorities Bye-Elections purportedly being organised by EDSIEC.”
Aziegbemi stated the petition follows an order granted to the social gathering by Justice Mary Itsueli of the State Excessive Court docket, sitting in Benin Metropolis, which restrained the Edo State Unbiased Electoral Fee, EDSIEC, and the state authorities from conducting the by-election slated for Saturday, September 20, 2025.
He argued that any participation by safety companies within the purported elections would quantity to aiding and abetting contempt of courtroom and undermining the rule of regulation.
He maintained that, as a impartial establishment of state dedicated to upholding regulation and order, the Command ought to guarantee its males and officers don’t take part in or present safety for the illegal course of.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman, nevertheless, suggested the command that the integrity of democracy, the sanctity of judicial pronouncements, and the credibility of safety establishments should be preserved.
He defined that Justice Itsueli’s order of Tuesday, September 17, 2025, in Swimsuit No. B/247M/2025, restrained EDSIEC and the state authorities from continuing with the deliberate by-elections.
Aziegbemi stated the decide, who’s sitting as a trip decide of the Edo State Excessive Court docket, held that the tenures of the duly elected councillors within the affected wards subsist till September 2026.
He asserted that any try to declare their seats vacant or to conduct recent elections can be illegal and unconstitutional.
“The Court docket categorically ordered that the Respondents ‘are to remain additional actions and are restrained from conducting the election or taking any additional steps in reference to the deliberate Native Authorities by-election throughout 59 wards within the Native Authorities Areas of Edo State, pending the listening to and dedication of the substantive matter.
“The matter has since been referred to the Honourable Chief Choose for project to a daily courtroom, with a return date mounted for 30 September 2025,” he added.
