An Edo State High Court, situated in Benin City, has issued an order restraining both the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the State Government from proceeding with planned local government by-elections. The order specifically targets elections intended to fill councillor positions across 59 wards within the state.

Justice Mary E. Itsueli, presiding as a vacation judge, granted the prohibitory order on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. This decision followed an ex parte motion filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP, represented by its legal team comprising Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Michael Ekwemuka, and P. W. Akwuen, had initiated the suit, identified as B/247M/2025. In their application, the party sought leave from the court to apply for a judicial review of EDSIEC’s contentious decision to conduct by-elections for the councillor positions in the aforementioned wards.

The central argument put forth by the PDP was that the tenures of the current councillors remain legally valid until September 2026. Consequently, the party contended that any attempt by EDSIEC or the State Government to declare these seats vacant at this juncture would be unlawful and an infringement on established legal mandates.

In her ruling, Justice Itsueli concluded that the applicants, the Peoples Democratic Party, had successfully demonstrated sufficient grounds for the court to intervene in the matter, thereby justifying the issuance of the restraining order.