By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), has dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s protest against the August 22 local government elections in the state, insisting that the party was given adequate opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

The commission also rejected the PDP’s reported threat to seek legal redress, maintaining that the election was conducted in line with the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions.

Chief Collins Agbo, Commissioner and Chairman of EBSIEC’s Information, Voter Education and Publicity Committee, stated this while addressing journalists after the conclusion of the council elections across Ebonyi State.

Agbo said EBSIEC would not engage in a war of words with any faction of the PDP, but stressed that the commission followed its approved timetable and complied with the legal requirements guiding local government elections.

According to him, the process was based on adequate notice to political parties, extensive stakeholder consultations, voter education and strict adherence to the published schedule of activities.

He said the commission, inaugurated on August 15, 2025, had reviewed previous electoral experiences and identified non-compliance with relevant laws as one of the factors responsible for litigation surrounding past elections.

Agbo explained that the commission consequently reviewed the Electoral Act, the Ebonyi State electoral laws and the Constitution before deciding that the August 22 poll would be conducted strictly within the legal framework.

He said EBSIEC released its timetable early enough to enable political parties conduct their primaries, nominate candidates and prepare adequately for the election.

He added that the commission organised a stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties, security agencies, persons with disabilities and other groups, with 17 political parties attending the initial meeting.

Agbo said the commission maintained engagements with stakeholders throughout the electoral process and repeatedly provided information through radio programmes, jingles, public enlightenment campaigns and grassroots sensitisation.

He attributed the failure of some political parties to participate in the election to internal crises and their inability to complete nomination processes within the stipulated period.

He specifically mentioned the Labour Party and PDP, saying the commission could not be blamed for internal disagreements within political parties.

According to him, the PDP was represented at the commission’s initial stakeholders’ meeting and received invitations through its state office and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

He therefore rejected claims that opposition parties were excluded from the electoral process.

On allegations of interference by the state government, Agbo said the commission remained independent in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.

He explained that although the governor had a constitutional role in the appointment of members of the state electoral commission, such responsibility did not give the governor the authority to dictate how elections should be conducted.

“The governor has a constitutional responsibility to appoint members of the commission, subject to the provisions of the law and confirmation by the House of Assembly. But once we are constituted, we have our responsibilities under the law,” he said.

Agbo also dismissed suggestions that Governor Francis Nwifuru influenced the conduct of the election, noting that the governor was not a candidate in either the chairmanship or councillorship contests.

He maintained that EBSIEC had not received any court order preventing it from conducting the election and would have complied with any valid legal directive had one existed.

The commissioner said parties dissatisfied with the outcome remained free to approach the appropriate court or tribunal, stressing that the commission was prepared to defend its conduct of the election.

He also justified the timing of the poll, saying it was necessary to hold the election before the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing local government administrations.

According to him, the applicable state law provides for a two-year tenure, and failure to conduct the election within the required period could have resulted in a vacuum in local government administration.