The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) has again postponed the state’s local government election, leaving political parties and candidates without a definite date for the council polls.
The election, which was scheduled for November 7, 2026, was put off indefinitely, with the commission yet to disclose the specific circumstances behind its decision.
ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu, announced the postponement on Saturday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri, saying the commission was “constrained to announce that the election will not hold.”
He, however, assured stakeholders that a fresh date, timetable and guidelines would be released within the shortest possible time.
The latest development marks another setback for the council election, which was initially scheduled for September 26 before the state government announced its postponement over pending litigations.
Although Ejiogu said the commission had consulted widely before taking the latest decision, he did not identify the issues that made it impossible to proceed with the November 7 date.
He instead invited stakeholders to offer suggestions on the way forward, saying their contributions would help the commission establish safeguards for a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
The ISIEC chairman maintained that the commission would not abandon its constitutional responsibility to conduct elections that would produce democratically elected local government chairmen and councillors.
He also assured political parties and their candidates of a level playing field, saying all contestants would have equal opportunities in the process.
On security, Ejiogu disclosed that the commission was working with security agencies towards establishing the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), involving the police, military, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other agencies.
He urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to sign and observe a peace accord, warning that no individual or group would be allowed to undermine the will of voters in the forthcoming election.
The commission also called for tolerance among political parties and their supporters as preparations continue for the poll.
However, with no replacement date announced and no detailed explanation offered for the latest postponement, the immediate concern for political stakeholders remains when Imo residents will finally elect their local government representatives.
