Anambra election set for August 29 despite court case

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission is set to hold local government elections on August 29. This is despite a court case from 56 councillors who are challenging the tenure of elected council officials.

Genevieve Osakwe, the chairman of ANSIEC, said this in Awka on Monday. She emphasized that the commission is working hard to keep the election preparations on track.

This announcement comes as the councillors filed a lawsuit at the Anambra State High Court in Awka. They are questioning the legality of the state government's decision to limit the tenure of elected local government officials to two years.

In Suit No. A/261/2026, the councillors named the state Attorney General, the Anambra State House of Assembly, and ANSIEC as defendants. They are arguing against Section 110(A) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024. They believe this law goes against Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which supports a democratically elected local government system.

The councillors claim that their tenure has not ended and that they should serve a full four years from when they were inaugurated. Osakwe responded by saying that the ongoing case has not stopped the commission's plans for the election. She pointed out that just because a suit is filed does not mean the election process halts.

She stated, "The commission has not received any directive requiring it to suspend the electoral process scheduled for August 29."

Osakwe added, "As you can see, we are in our offices working ahead of the conduct of the election. It is not automatic that when a suit is filed in court, the electoral process will stop."

She urged political parties in Anambra to keep preparing for the election. Osakwe assured everyone that ANSIEC is focused on a fair electoral process.

The disagreement centers on the two-year term set for local government chairmen, deputy chairmen, and councillors under the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024. The councillors argue that this rule unfairly shortens the time elected officials can serve. They say it does not match the constitutional guarantee for a democratically elected local government.

They are asking the court to declare the two-year term provision unconstitutional, null, and void. They also want an order to remove this rule from the state’s electoral law.

The councillors are calling for the court to acknowledge a four-year term for local government officials. They want to stop the state government and ANSIEC from dissolving the current councils or holding elections to replace them until their constitutional tenure is complete.

In addition, they are seeking an injunction to stop ANSIEC from publishing election schedules or taking steps to replace the current officials while their case is pending.

With the election date getting closer, this legal battle is creating some uncertainty around the local government changes in Anambra. But for now, ANSIEC insists that the election on August 29 is still on track, unless the court says otherwise.