Fourteen elected ward and Local Government Area (LGA) executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have written to the national chairman of the party, requesting the nullification of the state congress held on October 23, 2024, and the conduct of a fresh election.

In a letter dated January 15, 2025, the elected executives urged the national leadership of the PDP to follow the directive of a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, which ruled in favor of their delegates list.

They called for the use of their list in the next state congress as ordered by the court.

The letter, signed by Egwuaba Reuben Esq., on behalf of Comrade Moses Adam and others, read in part:
“It is the information of our clients that on the 6th day of December 2024, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory presided over by Justice Suleiman Belgore granted the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction and set aside the congress conducted on the 23rd of October 2024 for the election of the State Executives Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with delegate list that is outside the names of our Clients who are the elected Local Government and Wards Executives in Orumba South South LGA of Anambra State in Ezira Ward of Orumba South LGA and Ward 1 of Nnewi South LGA of Anambra State.”

“It is the information of our clients that ever since, the Peoples Democratic Party has neglected and/or refused to recognize or give effect to the Ruling of the Court by nullifying the Anambra State PDP State Congress held on the 23rd of October, 2024 and conducting a fresh state congress where our clients’ delegates list will be used.”

“We are aware that the Peoples Democratic Party is law-abiding and the officials would not do anything prejudicial or contrary to the Judgment of the Court thereby violating the principles of the rule of law in a democratic setting in Nigeria. We therefore, urge you to use your good office and ensure that the right is done by giving effect to the Ruling of the Court by nullifying the Anambra State PDP Congress and conducting a fresh State Congress where our clients’ delegate list who are the subsisting Wards and Local Government Areas officers of the Party in Anambra State will be used.”

The letter also highlighted the 14 affected Local Government Areas: Aguata LGA, Anambra East LGA, Anambra West LGA, Ayamelum LGA, Dunukofia LGA, Ekwusigo LGA, Idemili South LGA, Ihiala LGA, Nnewi South LGA, Onitsha LGA, Onitsha South LGA, Orumba North LGA, Orumba South LGA, and Oyi LGA.

Further outlining the legal steps taken, the lawyer stated:
“It is the information of our clients that after the conduct of the Anambra State PDP State Congress where our clients’ delegate list was not used in the conduct of the State Executive, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) set up an appeal committee for any aggrieved party to challenge the Anambra State Congress held on the 23rd of October, 2024 and the committee comprises of Hon. Barr. Musa Elayo-Chairman, Hon. Prince Marshall U. Ukafor Anyanwu-Member, Chief A.C. Thomas Nkoro-Secretary.”

“Our client filed a complaint with the appeal committee challenging the Anambra State PDP Congress on the ground that duly list of delegates of the fourteen (14) Local Government Areas was not used in the conduct of the election for State Executives and the appeal committee after hearing parties and reviewed of -documents tendered before it, nullified the State Congress held on the 23rd of October 2023 and directed that a fresh state congress be organized to elect state officers of the party whereby our client’s delegates list will be used being the valid and authentic delegates list.”

“That despite the recommendation of the appeal committee on the Anambra State PDP Congress held on the 23rd of October 2024, the members of the Peoples Democratic Party refused to give heed by canceling the congress and conducting a fresh State Congress where the list of our clients will be used.”

Voter turnout in Ondo State’s local government elections on Saturday was notably low, with many polling units reporting minimal participation throughout the day.

The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) confirmed that 13 political parties had candidates contesting, but the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), withdrew from the election on Wednesday, citing doubts about the credibility of the electoral process.

Polling stations opened at 8 am, but by mid-morning, many electoral officers were still waiting for voters.

For instance, at Sacred Heart Primary School in Akure, fewer than 20 voters had cast their ballots by 11:30 am.

Similar low turnout was observed across various polling units, including Ward 4, Unit 27, and Unit 7, with very few voters showing up.

Despite the low turnout, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, who voted at Polling Unit 7 in Ward 4, Akure South Local Government Area, praised the peaceful and smooth conduct of the election.

Adeniyan noted that while voter turnout could have been better, the overall process had been encouraging and incident-free.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who voted in Ugbo Ward 4 in Ilaje Local Government Area, commended the ODIEC for ensuring a smooth election and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening local government autonomy and ensuring effective governance at the grassroots level.