Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin
Major opposition parties in Edo State will not be participating in the local government election holding today.
Although, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) on Thursday, said 12 parties would take part in the election, indications on ground show that it is an affair of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state.
The Chairman of EDSIEC, Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, had maintained that 12 political parties were vying for councillorship and chairmanship positions in the 18 local government areas, covering all wards and 4,519 polling units, but the reality is that no major opposition parties are participating in the election.
Aifuobhokhan disclosed that the accredited political parties participating in the election include, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party, Action People’s Party (APP), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Allied People’s Movement (APM).
Others are Young Progressives Party (YPP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Action Alliance (AA)
He said EDSIEC had spent several months putting in place the required legal, administrative and operational frameworks to ensure the election complied with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, relevant electoral laws and internationally accepted democratic principles.
According to him, all sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have been produced, inspected, sorted and packaged for distribution to the commission’s local government offices in line with established operational procedures. He added that special logistics had been arranged for riverine and hard-to-reach communities to ensure no eligible voter would be disenfranchised, assuring that the commission was fully prepared to deliver a free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and inclusive poll.
Despite the assurances, however, heavyweight political parties’ names will not be on the ballot boxes. The boycott stems, according to some of the parties, from lack of confidence in the process.
The People Democratic Party (PDP) until lately, the major opposition party in the state, has disassociated itself from the process.
A statement by the Dr. Tony Aziegbemi-led faction of PDP is of the opinion that illegality cannot give birth to legitimacy.
The statement signed by Aziegbemi and dated July 2, 2026 said the decision of the party not to participate in the council’s poll was taken at the State Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s Secretariat on July 1, 2026.
In a statement titled, ‘illegality cannot produce legitimacy: Edo State PDP will not participate in the July 11, 2026 local government election’, he said the decision to boycott the election was borne out from the party’s unwavering commitment to the constitution, the rule of law, and democratic governance.
He also attributed the boycott to the dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors and their replacement with unelected caretaker committees, contrary to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)
“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 proposed election. Refusal to obey eight High Court judgements reinstating elected council chairmen to their offices,” he said.
Aziegbemi posited that a process founded on constitutional violations cannot produce a legitimate democratic outcome, vowing that “we will not legitimise illegality”.
According to him, “the PDP cannot in good conscience participate in an electoral exercise designed to validate unconstitutional actions. To do so would amount to endorsing lawlessness and betraying the democratic mandate of the people of Edo State.
He said the position of the party is that the party will not field candidates or participate in the July 11, 2026 local government election.
“All units, wards, LGA executives, party leaders, members, and supporters are advised to refrain from participating in the exercise.
“The party will continue to pursue all lawful and constitutional means to defend democracy and protect the mandate of the people,” he stated.
While noting that the party shall continue to stand for democracy, he assured that they remain resolute in defending the constitution, the rule of law and the sovereignty of the people.
Hon. Kennedy Odion, the factional chairman of African Democratic Party (ADC) in the state said the party is boycotting the election due to EDSIEC’s refusal to sign a memorandum of understanding that electoral materials must get to all units, wards and local governments.
Odion said other conditions are to ensure that the process is free, fair, credible and the commission must be seen to be independent. He said the electoral body failed to sign the MoU.
Also speaking, the National Democratic Party (NDC) state Secretary, Hon. Peter Ajube, said he is not aware that the party would be participating in the exercise.
He said the processes for the election were almost completed before the party came on board in the state.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has informed the general public that there will be a restriction of movement throughout Edo State from 12:00 midnight (0000hrs) to 3:00 p.m. (1800hrs) on Saturday, 11th July, 2026. The Command said this was to ensure peaceful, orderly, and secure conduct of the elections.
“The restriction is part of the comprehensive security measures put in place by the Command in collaboration with other security agencies to guarantee a peaceful electoral process, protect voters, electoral officials, and sensitive materials, as well as prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“Consequently, all vehicular and human movement within the state is prohibited during the stated period, except for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, duly accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency and other essential service providers on election duty.
“Members of the public are advised to comply fully with this directive, as security operatives have been strategically deployed across the 18 local government areas of the state to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order. Any person or group found violating the restriction or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the police stated in a statement yesterday.
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, reassured the people that adequate security arrangements have been made to safeguard the election and urged residents to come out peacefully to exercise their civic responsibility in line with the guidelines issued by the EDSIEC as the Command remains committed to ensuring a free, fair, peaceful, and credible electoral process.