Imo State’s Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) announced on Saturday that the local government council elections slated for 7 November 2026 have been postponed indefinitely. The decision was disclosed by ISIEC Chairman Chief Charles Ejiogu during a stakeholders’ meeting held in the state capital, Owerri.
The poll, originally scheduled for 26 September 2026, had already been delayed after the state government cited ongoing litigations as a barrier to holding the vote. Ejiogu declined to provide a specific reason for the latest postponement, stating only that the commission was “constrained to announce that the election will not hold.”
Despite the setback, the chairman pledged that ISIEC will set a new election date “within the shortest possible time,” and will issue a fresh timetable and guidelines. He reaffirmed the commission’s constitutional duty to conduct a “peaceful, transparent and credible” election that will produce democratically elected council chairmen and councilors.
Ejiogu also assured political parties of a “seamless level playing ground” for all candidates emerging from primaries. To bolster security, the commission is establishing an Inter‑Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which will include the Nigeria Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services, NSCDC and other relevant agencies. He urged the Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to sign and uphold a peace accord to prevent any attempts to subvert the will of the people.
The Owerri meeting was convened to hear stakeholders’ views and seek their empathy and understanding, which Ejiogu said are essential for building the safeguards needed to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible council election in Imo State.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
