The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the state’s local government elections on August 29, despite a legal challenge by 56 serving councillors over the tenure of elected council officials.

ANSIEC Chairman, Genevieve Osakwe, disclosed this in Awka on Monday, saying the commission was working to ensure that preparations for the election remained on course.

The development comes amid a suit filed by the councillors before the Anambra State High Court in Awka, challenging the constitutionality of the state government’s decision to limit the tenure of elected local government officials to two years.

In Suit No. A/261/2026, the plaintiffs joined the state Attorney General, the Anambra State House of Assembly and ANSIEC as defendants.

The councillors are challenging Section 110(A) of the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024, arguing that the provision conflicts with Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees a democratically elected local government system.

They contend that their tenure has not expired and that they are entitled to remain in office for four years from the date of their inauguration.

However, Osakwe said the pending case had not affected the commission’s preparations, stressing that the mere filing of a suit did not automatically stop an electoral process.

She said, “The commission has not received any directive requiring it to suspend the electoral process scheduled for August 29.

“As you can see, we are in our offices working ahead of the conduct of the election. It is not automatic that when a suit is filed in court, the electoral process will stop.

“As the electoral umpire, we urge political parties in the state to continue preparing for the election. ANSIEC remained focused on delivering a credible electoral process.”

The commission chairman also assured political parties and candidates that the poll would be conducted in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant state electoral laws.

What the councillors are challenging

At the centre of the dispute is the two-year tenure prescribed for elected local government chairmen, deputy chairmen and councillors under the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, 2024.

The plaintiffs argue that the provision unlawfully cuts short the tenure of elected officials and is inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a democratically elected local government system.

Among other reliefs, they are asking the court to declare the two-year tenure provision unconstitutional, null and void.

They are also seeking an order invalidating and removing the relevant provision from the state’s electoral law.

The councillors want the court to recognise a four-year tenure for elected local government officials and restrain the state government and ANSIEC from dissolving the existing councils or conducting elections to replace them before the completion of what they consider their constitutional tenure.

They are further seeking an injunction preventing ANSIEC from publishing election timetables or taking other steps towards replacing the serving officials pending the determination of their tenure claim.

With the election date approaching, the legal dispute has introduced uncertainty into Anambra’s planned local government transition.

For now, however, ANSIEC maintains that the August 29 timetable remains unchanged, unless the court issues an order directing otherwise.