The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has filed a suit at the Imo State High Court seeking to halt the local government elections scheduled for September 26, 2026. The suit, numbered HOW/1380/2026, was filed on September 16 at the Owerri Judicial Division. APGA and four of its state executives are challenging the legality of the electoral process, citing the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission's (ISIEC) failure to comply with statutory requirements.
A major issue in the suit is ISIEC's 360-day Notice of Election issued on September 18, 2025. The plaintiffs argue that the notice was defective because it did not state the specific date of the election, contrary to provisions of the Electoral Act. They also contend that the commission's subsequent announcement on September 11, 2026, fixing the election for September 26, could not remedy the alleged defect in the earlier notice.
ISIEC had announced that the election would cover 27 local government chairmanship positions and 305 councillorship seats across 4,758 polling units in the state. The commission claimed the exercise was covered by its September 18, 2025, 360-day notice issued under the Electoral Act 2022, as amended. However, APGA maintains that statutory compliance is mandatory, citing a 2025 Supreme Court decision concerning the Rivers State local government elections.
The plaintiffs also raised questions over the applicability of the Electoral Act under which the 2025 notice was issued, arguing that the 2022 law has since been repealed by the Electoral Act 2026, which commenced in February. Another issue raised by APGA concerns the Register of Voters, with the plaintiffs questioning whether ISIEC complied with the statutory requirement relating to the cessation of voter registration and revision at least 90 days before the election.
The legal challenge comes less than a week before the scheduled poll, placing the election timetable under judicial scrutiny. The court's decision will determine whether the elections will proceed as scheduled. If the court grants APGA's request, it could lead to a postponement or cancellation of the elections.
Separately, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused individuals loyal to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of destroying campaign billboards and looting shops in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. Keyamo alleged that the incident occurred on Friday, September 18, and that law-enforcement personnel accompanied the attackers.
Keyamo compared the incident with the recent blockade of Peter Obi's entourage in Benue State, saying he had condemned that incident but considered the Effurun incident more serious. He called for an investigation into the alleged attack and said anyone found culpable, including any security personnel implicated, should face appropriate sanctions.
Key points
- APGA files suit to stop Imo State local government elections
- Plaintiffs cite ISIEC's failure to comply with statutory requirements
- Court's decision will determine whether elections will proceed as scheduled
