By Prisca Nguzo
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, has put the 2026 Local Government Council elections on hold, announcing that the November 7, 2026 date will no longer hold.
Chairman of the Commission, Chief Charles Ejiogu, JP, who disclosed this on Saturday in Owerri, said a new date, timetable and guidelines would be announced soon.
Ejiogu spoke at Rockview Hotels, Owerri, during a critical stakeholders meeting with the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, and chairmen of all registered political parties in the state.
He said the electoral process was activated on September 18, 2025 with a 360-day notice, pursuant to Section 7(1) of the Constitution, Government Law No.6 Section 16(1) and the ISIEC Establishment Law 2005 as amended.
According to him, following the expiration of the two-year tenure of the 27 council chairmen and councilors elected on September 21, 2024 and sworn in on September 30, 2024, the Commission had initially fixed the polls for September 26, 2026. He said the date was rejected by IPAC.
"However, our position didn't go down well with our critical stakeholders particularly, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), even as some members of IPAC approached the judiciary to compel ISIEC for extension of the time frame," Ejiogu said.
Following engagements with stakeholders, he said, the date was shifted to November 7, 2026, but after wider consultations, the Commission was constrained to shelve it.
"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," he declared.
"Rest assured that within the shortest possible time, the Commission will announce the new date, time table and guidelines."
Ejiogu stressed that ISIEC is not an island.
"ISIEC is not an island unto itself and will certainly not act without IPAC, the umbrella body of all registered political parties. Hence, IPAC remains most strategic partner in the electoral process," he said.
He said the meeting was to listen and build safeguards for a peaceful, transparent and credible election that meets international best practices.
He disclosed that when held, the election will take place in 4,758 polling units and 305 wards in the 27 LGAs, adding that under the Electoral Act 2022, all party primaries must be observed by ISIEC.
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On campaign, Ejiogu warned political parties against violence and destruction of opponents' billboards and posters.
"ISIEC as an established democratic institution belongs to no political party and we will remain an impartial Electoral Management Body. The Commission will provide a level playing ground for all the registered political parties," he said.
"The Commission is urging all of you to exhibit an appreciable degree of tolerance of opposing viewpoints, shun violence, thuggery, hate speech and anti-social behaviour.
"The Commission will not accept destruction of opponents' billboards, posters and inciting comments that could lead to breakdown of law and order," he warned.
He said ISIEC is working with security agencies to set up the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, comprising the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, DSS, NSCDC and other agencies to secure the polls before, during and after.
"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," he said.
Ejiogu also solicited the support of traditional rulers, women and youth leaders for grassroots mobilization to curb voter apathy, and commended the media for fair reportage.
Reassuring stakeholders, he said: "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 councilors and there will be no two ways to it, as it is a task that must be accomplished.
"Let me reassure the political parties and their aspirants that as an Electoral Management Body, 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."
The meeting was attended by IPAC leadership, party chairmen, ISIEC commissioners and management staff, traditional rulers, presidents-general, chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, faith-based organizations, women and youth groups and journalists.
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