The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its legal team to commence contempt proceedings against the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the Attorney-General for allegedly defying court orders.

Chris Nehikhare, the PDP Caretaker Committee spokesperson, in a statement on Monday, alleged that they flouted subsisting court orders that restrained them from conducting the September 20 local government by-elections.

Mr Nehikhare accused the electoral body of staging what it described as a “sham exercise, in reckless disregard for the law.”

“Despite clear and subsisting orders of the Edo State High Court and the National Industrial Court restraining them from conducting the election, they defiantly went ahead to stage a sham exercise and, in reckless disregard for the law, are purportedly preparing to declare winners,” he said.

Justice Mary Itsueli of an Edo High Court, Benin, on September 16, restrained the state electoral body from conducting the by-election, saying the tenures of the affected councillors remained valid until September 2026.

Ms Itsueli ordered EDSIEC and the Edo government “to stay further actions.”

The electoral body, however, conducted by-elections for 59 councillorship seats across 15 local governments, citing a resolution of the state’s House of Assembly, which declared those seats vacant for alleged absenteeism.

Mr Nehikhare described the alleged disobedience as “a direct assault on the judiciary and a calculated attempt to plunge Edo into lawlessness.”

According to him, the actions of EDSIEC and the Attorney-General allegedly represent a betrayal of public trust and “a shameful display of irresponsibility” by officers sworn to uphold the constitution.

“The deliberate disobedience of lawful court orders by public officers who swore to uphold the Constitution is shameful, irresponsible, and cannot go unpunished,” the party spokesperson alleged.

He stressed that the party would not allow “impostors and collaborators in government” to trample on the rule of law, warning that democracy cannot survive in an environment where court orders are ignored with impunity.”

“The courts have spoken. The law must prevail,” he said, assuring Edo residents of the party’s commitment to defend democracy and the judiciary.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the chairman of the commission, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment during a telephone call.

Samson Osagie, the attorney general and the state commissioner for justice, also refused comment when contacted.

(NAN)