The Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and National Democratic Congress (NDC) have announced their decision to boycott the state’s local government elections scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026.
The election is expected to produce chairmen for the state’s 18 local government areas and 192 ward councillors.
In a statement titled “Illegality Cannot Produce Legitimacy: Edo State PDP Will Not Participate in the July 11, 2026 Local Government Election,” the PDP said its decision followed resolutions reached at the State Executive Committee meeting held on July 1, 2026.
The statement, signed by the party’s factional chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said the boycott reflects the party’s commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and due process.
According to Aziegbemi, the party rejected the election over what it described as unconstitutional actions by the Edo State Government, including the dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councillors, replacing them with caretaker committees in violation of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He also faulted the dissolution of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) before the expiration of its statutory tenure and the appointment of a new commission to conduct the election. The PDP further accused the government of refusing to comply with eight High Court judgments ordering the reinstatement of elected local government chairmen.
“A process founded on constitutional violations cannot produce a legitimate democratic outcome. We will not legitimise illegality,” Aziegbemi stated.
He added that the PDP would neither field candidates nor participate in the July 11 council election, directing all party executives, members, supporters, and stakeholders across the state to stay away from the exercise.
The party maintained that it would continue to pursue legal and constitutional avenues to defend democracy and protect the mandate of the people of Edo State.
Similarly, the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced its withdrawal from the election.
The party’s factional chairman, Hon. Kennedy Odion, said the decision was based on the refusal of EDSIEC to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guaranteeing the timely distribution of electoral materials to polling units, wards, and local government areas.
Odion said the proposed agreement also sought assurances that the election would be conducted in a free, fair, credible, and transparent manner by an independent electoral body, adding that the commission declined to sign the document.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also distanced itself from the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the party, the state secretary, Hon. Peter Ajube, said he was unaware of any plans by the NDC to participate in the election, noting that most of the electoral processes had already been concluded before the party established its presence in Edo State.
The July 11 local government election is expected to proceed amid the withdrawal of three political parties and growing concerns over the credibility of the process.
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