Justice Maureen Oyetenu of the Federal High Court in Abakaliki on Tuesday sacked 13 local government chairmen in Ebonyi State.

The held that the open ballot system used for the elections of the local official was unconstitutional, null and void.

The court in a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Mr. Alieze Nwekpa, ruled that the open ballot system used in the conduct of the election was inconsistent with the Electoral Act (as amended).

Justice Oyetenu further ruled that the state House of Assembly which adopted open ballot system for the election acted utra-vires, adding that the amendment of the local government electoral act by the House for the exercise was unconstitutional.

The judge noted that the plaintiff has the locus-standi to file the suit against the claim of the counsel to the state House of Assembly that he has no right to do so.
He therefore, restrained the state Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), the fourth defendant from using the open ballot system to conduct local government elections in the state and set aside the local government elections conducted October 5 last year.

In a reaction, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Ikechukwu Agbo, who took over from the earlier counsel, Mr. M. Odoh, commended the court for the judgment.

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