The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) on Monday presented Certificates of Return to councillorship candidates who won in the by-elections held across the state on September 20, 2025.
Naijaonpoint reports that the presentation ceremony took place at the Commission’s headquarters on Airport Road, GRA, Benin City.
Certificates were handed over on behalf of the EDSIEC Chairman, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, by Ovuchor Suleiman.
While several of the winners turned up to personally receive their certificates, some councillors-elect were absent and did not collect theirs at the event.
The exercise officially confirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the sole winner of the polls, securing all 59 councillorship seats across 15 local government areas where vacancies had existed.
Major opposition parties had boycotted the election, leaving APC as the only party on the ballot.
The by-elections went ahead despite a subsisting ex parte order of the Edo State High Court, which had directed EDSIEC to suspend the exercise.
The Commission, however, maintained its decision to proceed after filing a motion on notice challenging the order.
In a press statement issued on September 19, the Commission argued that it was acting within its legal rights and confirmed the polls would be conducted as planned.
Monday’s presentation of certificates formally concludes the contentious by-election, which has drawn criticism from opposition groups and civil society actors over the disregard of the court order and lack of competition.
With the certificates now issued, the APC councillors-elect are expected to be sworn into office by their respective local government chairmen in the coming days.
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