The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the state police command not to provide any form of support, security cover, or legitimacy for Saturday’s planned local government by-elections, which it described as illegal.

On Tuesday, an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin restrained the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the state government from proceeding with the elections across 59 wards.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Mary Itsueli, followed an ex-parte motion filed by the PDP through its counsel, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Michael Ekwemuka, and P. W. Akwuen. 

In the suit marked B/247M/2025, the party argued that the tenures of the affected councillors remain valid until September 2026, making any attempt to declare their seats vacant unlawful.

Justice Itsueli held that the PDP had shown sufficient grounds for judicial intervention and granted the restraining order. 

The matter was subsequently referred to the Chief Judge of Edo State for reassignment to a regular court, with September 30, 2025, fixed as the return date.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, and signed by PDP state chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, the party emphasized that the planned election was in direct violation of the court’s order.

The letter reads in part:

“We call on your esteemed office to refrain from lending any form of support, deployment, cover, or legitimacy to this illegal exercise. Any participation by security agencies in the purported elections would amount to aiding and abetting contempt of court and undermining the rule of law.

“The Honourable Court further held that the tenures of the duly elected councillors in the affected wards subsist until September 2026. Therefore, any attempt to conduct fresh elections would be unlawful and unconstitutional.”

The PDP stressed that the integrity of the judiciary, the sanctity of democratic institutions, and the credibility of security agencies must not be compromised.