The Imo State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal in Owerri has adjourned the case filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) until November 4, 2024. The SDP is contesting the results of the recently concluded local council elections in the state.
The petition, with suit number EPI/IMLG/0/9/24, was submitted by Henry Ifeanyi Eluwa, the state chairman of the SDP. The party is demanding a complete cancellation of the election results, citing alleged electoral irregularities and malpractices that they claim tainted the election process.
Eluwa accused the ISIEC of colluding with the ruling APC to violate electoral guidelines. During the first hearing on October 17, 2024, neither the APC nor its candidates were present in court, prompting the tribunal to postpone the proceedings.
The petition specifically targets several local government areas, including Ezinihitte, Owerri Municipal, Obowo, and Ngor-Okpala. Additionally, the SDP is calling for ISIEC chairman Charles Ejiogu to clarify how election results were reported from local government areas where elections were supposedly canceled due to insecurity.
Eluwa emphasized that the SDP remains committed to advocating for good governance, social justice, and electoral reform. He also pointed out that the state electoral commission failed to adhere to the guidelines it had set for the election.
