By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has released the official timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 Local Government election in the state.

This was disclosed Friday by the Commission during an interactive session with leaders of registered political parties in Awka under the umbrella of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

It also unveiled the electoral guidelines for the conduct of the election.

Speaking at the event, the ANSIEC Chairman, Hon. Genevieve Osakwe Esq., who doubles as the state chief Electoral Officer, said that the release of the timetable and guidelines signals the commencement of full preparations for next year’s council elections in the state.

While describing the occasion as a historic and epoch-making, Osakwe promised to deliver a free, fair, credible and acceptable poll across the state.

According to her, the last local government elections in Anambra State, which was conducted in September 2024 by the same Commission, recalling that it was widely adjudged to be free and credible.

She harped on the Commission’s determination to build on that record and even surpass it in 2026, adding: “This Commission is working tirelessly day and night to make sure, this dream of conducting a free and fair election come 2026 is attained.

“Local government elections remain an indispensable component of the democratic process, as they guarantee representation, participation and decision-making at the grassroots level. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees a system of democratically elected local government councils and mandates State Independent Electoral Commissions to conduct such elections.

“The Commission had earlier published the Notice of Election on September 3, 2025, in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the Anambra State Electoral Law 2024. The actual election will hold on Saturday, August 29, 2026, across the 21 local government areas of the state.

“ANSIEC will soon commence a familiarization tour of the 21 local government areas to assess existing facilities, logistics and electoral infrastructure, as well as to mobilize the electorate ahead of the polls.”

Outlining the key activities in the timetable, the ANSIEC Chairman stated that political party primaries for the nomination of candidates will run from Thursday, December 18, 2025, to Monday, February 16, 2026.

According to her, ANSIEC officials must be present to observe every primary election, noting that no primaries conducted behind ANSIEC, without at least one week’s prior notice to the Commission, or conducted the same date with another party’s primary would not be recognised.

She, however, advised all political parties to nominate responsible and worthy persons as their candidates during their primaries.

The ANSIEC boss further disclosed that collection of nomination and personal data forms (ASIEC Forms 001, 007 and 008) by political parties will take place from Tuesday, February 17, to Saturday, February 21, 2026, while submission of the completed forms is scheduled for Monday, February 23, to Friday, February 27, 2026.

She added: “Personal particulars of nominated candidates will be published at ANSIEC headquarters and local government offices from February 28 to March 2, in line with the law; while withdrawal or replacement of candidates by political parties will run from March 3 to March 21, 2026.

“The final list of all nominated candidates will be published on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, while political campaigns in public will officially commence on the same date and run until midnight of Thursday, August 27, 2026, exactly 24 hours before election day, as stipulated by law. I urge the political parties to ensure that their candidates seriously and responsibly canvas for votes of the Electorates when the ban of political campaigns is lifted.

“Submission of names of polling agents by political parties is fixed for Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The official Notice of Poll will be published by ANSIEC on Friday, August 14, 2026.

“The election itself will hold on Saturday, August 29, 2026, between 8am and 3pm, via the open-secret ballot system; and run-off or re-run election (if any) will be conducted on September 12, 2026.”

While reminding political parties and aspirants that any civil servant seeking to contest for either chairmanship or councillorship position must first resign from Service at least 30 days before the election, in full compliance with the law, Osakwe disclosed that all aspirants are required to pay non-refundable administrative deposits to the Commission as prescribed under Section 27(1)(g) of the Anambra State Electoral Law 2024, stressing that no nomination would be valid without evidence of such payment

She cautioned all political parties to adhere to the principle of issue-based campaigns that is devoid of name-calling, blackmail or campaigns of calumny.

The ANSIEC Chairman also noted that campaigns will strictly not be allowed in churches, mosques, shrines, barracks, police stations or any secret places, insisting that all campaigns must be conducted in open public spaces as required by law.

She warned that political parties must stop all campaigns 48 hours to the election, saying that party agents must submit passports, signatures and full names, with proper identity tags as that would serve as their identification tag during the election.

Osakwe used the occasion to appeal to IPAC, political parties and all stakeholders to support ANSIEC in achieving its goal of delivering a free, fair, credible and widely acceptable Local Government Election in 2026, even as she pledged that the Commission will remain an impartial umpire and also ensure a level playing ground for all.

She said: “The Commission hereby solicits the help of all stakeholders in making sure that the set goal of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections is achieved.”

The Anambra State Chairman of IPAC and State Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Comrade Uche Ugwoji, who spoke on behalf of IPAC commended ANSIEC for its proactive engagement with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the election.

He assured the Commission of the readiness of political parties to participate fully in the election and work with ANSIEC to actualize its vision of conducting a free and fair local government poll.

Ugwoji maintained that IPAC members would go back to study the electoral guidelines and submissions presented by ANSIEC and return with collective proposals at a subsequent meeting.

While emphasizing the need for continuous dialogue between the Commission and stakeholders, the IPAC expressed optimism that sustained engagement between ANSIEC, IPAC and other stakeholders would help set a new benchmark for local government elections in Anambra State and beyond.

In their separate remarks, other IPAC members urged ANSIEC to ensure that the election is not only credible but widely perceived as credible by the general public.

Earlier in her speech, the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in the November 8 governorship election in the state, Grace Ifemeludike, called for special attention to be accorded women and youths.

She further emphasized that money should not be the overriding factor in the selection of candidates, but, credibility and character.

ANSIEC Chairman was flanked by other members of the Commission, including Osita Igbokwe Esq. (Commissioner in Charge of Legal Matters and Security Services); Chief Chinedu Anthony Nnalue, among others, during the event.

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