Why we postponed Enugu LG elections to October 5 — ENSIEC

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) says the Local Government Election scheduled for February 24 has been postponed to October 5, 2024.

The Chairman of ENSIEC, Dr Mike Ajogu, disclosed this in a statement in Enugu on Wednesday.

Ajogu said the postponement followed the court order requesting the Commission to adjust its original guideline and timetable published in the official gazette of Enugu State on September 26, 2023.

“The postponement was pursuant to a High Court Enugu State Judgment delivered by his lordship Hon. Justice C. O. Ajah in the case of Action Alliance vs Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission in suit no E/682/2023.

“The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission has been ordered to make the following adjustment to its original guideline and Time Table published in the official gazette of Enugu State and dated September 26, 2023

“The Enugu State Local Government Election 2024 originally scheduled for Feb. 24 has been shifted to the 5th October 5, 2024,’’ he said

Speaking to NAN on the condition of anonymity, a senior official of the commission said the shifting of the election date was in compliance with the High Court judgment, which says that “we cannot hold election on that date.”

“The court said that we supposed to give a 360 days’ notice of which what we gave was 120 days’ notice. The judge said the judgment was based on the Electoral Act.

“The court said we must follow Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guideline; that we cannot use a different guideline other than that of INEC, even though we have been using the local government law. ”

The official further said that there may likely be an appeal but “that is not for us, it’s left to the state government to decide”.