The September 26 local government election in Imo State has opened a fresh political dispute, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) insisting it is fully prepared for the poll while a forum of opposition parties has challenged the short timeline announced by the state electoral commission.
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) confirmed on September 11 that elections will hold on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for the 27 local government chairmanship positions and 305 councillorship seats across 4,758 polling units. The commission said the date is covered by a 360-day Notice of Election it issued on September 18, 2025, under Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, as amended.
But the Forum of Political Parties in Imo has rejected the timetable, arguing that the confirmation effectively leaves parties with only about two weeks to complete crucial electoral preparations. The forum has questioned the absence of what it considers a sufficient timetable for activities such as nominations and other internal party processes.
The APC has taken a sharply different position. In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the party said it began preparing for the election after ISIEC’s initial notice about a year ago. It said its State Working Committee had put the necessary arrangements in place to field what it described as credible and acceptable candidates across the state.
The party also praised ISIEC for what it called fairness, competence and integrity in its preparations for the election. APC urged the commission to remain focused and undistracted, while challenging opposition parties to test their popularity with voters rather than rely on what it described as political propaganda.
The APC’s confidence is backed by its performance in the last Imo local government election. On September 21, 2024, ISIEC conducted elections across the state’s 27 LGAs, 305 wards and 4,758 polling units. The commission later declared APC winner of all 27 chairmanship positions and all 305 councillorship seats. Of the 19 registered political parties, 17 participated in the 2024 election.
However, the previous election was also controversial. The PDP rejected the result, while the Labour Party had announced before the poll that it would boycott the exercise, questioning the credibility and independence of the electoral process. A report published before the 2024 election also recorded concerns from opposition groups over the process.
The central argument ahead of the 2026 poll is therefore becoming a question of notice versus practical preparation. ISIEC says political parties were notified a year ago and should have used that period to prepare. Opposition parties, meanwhile, are focused on the short period between the commission’s latest confirmation and election day, particularly where candidate-selection and campaign arrangements remain incomplete.
For APC, the election presents an opportunity to defend the clean sweep it recorded in 2024. For the opposition, it is a chance to challenge the ruling party’s dominance at the grassroots. With the election scheduled for September 26, the dispute over preparation and participation could become almost as significant as the contest for the 332 positions themselves.
