State Postpones Election Indefinitely

The Imo State Government has postponed the local government election scheduled for November 7, 2026, indefinitely.

The Chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Chief Charles Ejiogu, announced the decision during a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri on Saturday.

Although Ejiogu did not give a specific reason for the latest postponement, he said the commission was constrained to announce that the election would no longer hold as scheduled. He added that a new date, timetable and guidelines would be announced as soon as possible.

The election was initially scheduled for September 26, but the state government had earlier said it could not proceed because of ongoing litigations.

Ejiogu said the commission had consulted widely before reaching the decision and would use the stakeholders’ meeting to receive suggestions on arrangements for the rescheduled poll.

He assured residents that ISIEC would not abandon its constitutional responsibility to conduct peaceful, transparent and credible local government elections that would produce democratically elected chairmen and councillors.

The commission chairman also promised a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates, urging political actors to demonstrate tolerance throughout the electoral process.

He said ISIEC was working with security agencies to establish an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), comprising the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant agencies.

According to him, the arrangement would help provide adequate security before, during and after the elections.

Ejiogu also urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to sign and uphold a peace accord, warning that no individual or group would be allowed to undermine the will of voters.

He explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to obtain feedback and secure their understanding and cooperation in developing safeguards for peaceful, transparent and credible local government elections.