By Okey Maduforo Awka .
Despite legal action filed by 56 serving Councillors in Anambra state against the conduit of local government election in Anambra state, the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) is going ahead to carry out the exicise.
According to the Chairman of ANSIEC Mrs Genevieve Osakwe who spoke to reporters in Awka , the Commission is currently in the office concluding arrangements towards a free , fair and transparent electoral process.
She contended that the suit filed by the 56 Councilors do not mean that the election will not hold adding all political parties should be preparing for the conduct of the election.
“As you can see we are in our offices working ahead of the conduct of the election and it is not automatic that when a suit is filed in Court the electoral process will stop ” she said.
Primary elections for the nomination of candidates’ of political parties was conducted between December 18th and February 16th while the election proper was fixed for August 29th 2026 .
According to Osakwe, the election would be conducted in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the Anambra state Law assuring all parties and their candidates a free and fair process.
But last month 56 serving Councillors filed a Suit challenging the slated exercise in the area contending that their tenure of office has not expired.
Recall that the Anambra State House of Assembly had passed a bill into law pegging the tenure of both local government Chairmen and Councilors at two years in office .
The suit which joined the Attorney General of Anambra state, Anambra State House of Assembly and the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC ) as first , second and third defendants in Suit No A/ 261/2026. sort for the following declarations;
“A declaration of this Honorable Court that the statutory system of local government guaranteed under Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution ( As Amended) implies a secure , stable , and reasonable tenure capable of achieving grassroot governance , and does not permit the arbitrary truncation of it’s life cycle by state actors “
“A declaration that Section 110(A) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No 3 ) Law , 2024 , which limits the tenure of democratically elected local Government Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen and Ward Councillors in Anambra State to two( 2) years , is inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999( As Amended) and is therefore unconstitutional, null , void and of no legal consequence”
The Plaintiffs also is seeking an Order of the Court striking down , invalidating and expunging Section 110( 4) of the Anambra State Electoral ( Amendment No 3 ) Law , 2024 from the statutory books of Anambra state for it’s blatant inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution ( As Amended)
Others include”An Order of Court directing and affirming the plaintiffs and indeed all democratically elected Local government polls are entitled to a secure and standard tenure of four years( 4) years , in alignment with the democratic mandates of the federal and state tiers of government in the federation “
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the defendants their agents or privies or anyone acting in their behalf , from dissolving, terminating or interfering with the tenure of the elected local council at the two- year mark “
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the 3rd defendants taking any steps , publishing any timetables , or conducting any elections aimed at replacing the plaintiffs as the current elected local councils until their full four year tenure is spent ” .
