The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission has indefinitely postponed the local government election earlier scheduled for November 7, 2026, saying a new date would be announced within the shortest possible time.
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Chairman of the commission, Chief Charles Ejiogu, announced the postponement on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri.
Although Ejiogu did not give a specific reason for the decision, he said the commission was “constrained to announce that the election will not hold.”
The November 7 date was itself a rescheduled date, as the council election had initially been fixed for September 26, 2026, before the state government said it could not proceed because of pending litigation.
“At this juncture, having consulted widely, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is constrained to announce that the scheduled Saturday 7th November, 2026 Local Government Council Elections will no longer hold,” Ejiogu said.
He explained that the commission would use the stakeholders’ engagement to receive views and suggestions as it works towards fixing another date.
“Today, the commission will afford you the opportunity to express your considered viewpoints with informed suggestions, as it works towards the new date.
“Rest assured that within the shortest possible time, the commission will announce the new date, timetable and guidelines,” he said.
Ejiogu maintained that ISIEC remained committed to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible local government election that would produce democratically elected council chairmen and councillors.
“On behalf of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, I hasten to doubly assure all of you that at no time will the commission shirk its constitutional responsibility of conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible Local Government Councils election that will usher in democratically elected Council Chairmen and Councillors, and there will be no two ways to it, as it is a task that must be accomplished,” he said.
The ISIEC chairman also assured political parties, aspirants and candidates of a level playing field when the election is eventually held.
“Let me reassure the political parties and their aspirants/candidates that as an Electoral Management Body, the ISIEC will present to all of you a seamless level playing ground for all your Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates that will emerge after the primaries,” he said.
Ejiogu further disclosed that the commission was working with security agencies towards establishing an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to coordinate security before, during and after the council elections.
According to him, the proposed committee would comprise the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies.
He also urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council to sign and uphold a peace accord ahead of the election.
“We urge IPAC to sign and uphold a PEACE ACCORD, as no one or group of persons will be allowed to subvert the will of the people in the upcoming Council elections,” Ejiogu said.
He explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was intended to give interested parties an opportunity to express their views and to seek their understanding following the postponement.
Ejiogu maintained that collaboration among the commission, political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders would help establish safeguards necessary for the conduct of a peaceful, transparent and credible council election.
With no replacement date announced, the Imo local government election remains postponed indefinitely pending the release of a fresh timetable and guidelines by ISIEC.
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