ISIEC Again Postpones Imo Council Election, Dangles New Date

By ThankGod Emeh

The November 7 Local Government Council elections in Imo State have suffered another postponement, with the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) promising to announce a fresh date within the shortest possible time.

ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu, JP, announced the development on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during a critical stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties and other groups at Rockview Hotels, Owerri.

Making the announcement in his welcome address, Ejiogu declared: “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.”

The announcement marks another shift in the electoral timetable after the Commission earlier moved the polls from September 26 to November 7, 2026, following disagreements with political stakeholders, particularly the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the postponement, the ISIEC chairman said the Commission had embarked on constructive engagements with IPAC and other stakeholders after its initial election schedule did not receive the desired acceptance.

He said: “On account of its sensitivity to the yearnings of its stakeholders, the Commission (ISIEC) embarked on series of constructive engagements with the IPAC and other stakeholders that culminated in the postponement of the earlier scheduled Saturday 26th September, 2026 Council polls.”

Although no replacement date was announced, Ejiogu assured stakeholders that the new timetable would be made public shortly.

“Rest assured that within the shortest possible time, the Commission will announce the new date, time table and guidelines,” he stated.

The election is expected to cover 4, 758 polling units and 305 wards across the state’s 27 local government areas.

Reaffirming the Commission’s neutrality, Ejiogu insisted that ISIEC would provide a level playing field for all registered political parties, their candidates and supporters.

“ISIEC as an established democratic institution belongs to no political party and we will remain an impartial Electoral Management Body (EMB),” he declared.

He also warned political parties and their supporters against violence, thuggery, hate speech, destruction of campaign billboards and posters, and other activities capable of threatening public peace.

The ISIEC chairman further disclosed that the Commission was working with security agencies towards establishing an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security involving the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other agencies.

He called on political parties to uphold peaceful campaigns and embrace internal democracy, stressing that their primary elections must comply with the Electoral Act 2022.

Ejiogu also appealed to IPAC to sign and uphold a peace accord, warning that the Commission would not tolerate attempts to undermine the people’s will.

The latest postponement leaves political parties, chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, and voters awaiting a fresh electoral timetable for the constitution of democratically elected councils in Imo State.