2026 Anambra LG Poll: ANSIEC Meets Political Parties & Releases Election Timetable

Posted on December 5, 2025

IZUNNA OKAFOR

Ahead of the proposed 2026 Local Government Election in Anambra State, the state’s electoral umpire, the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), has formally released the official timetable and schedule of activities for the election, while also promising to deliver a free, fair, credible and acceptable poll across the state.

The Commission made the disclosure on Thursday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during an interactive session with leaders of registered political parties under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), where it also unveiled its electoral guidelines for the conduct of the elections.

The meeting, which attracted chairmen and secretaries of political parties or their representative, leadership of IPAC, as well as members and staff of ANSIEC, provided a platform for engagement, clarifications and commitments ahead of the crucial grassroots election slated for August 2026.

Speaking at the event, the ANSIEC Chairman, Hon. Genevieve C. Osakwe Esq., described the occasion as historic and epoch-making, noting that the release of the timetable and guidelines officially signals the commencement of full preparations for the 2026 Local Government Council Elections in Anambra State.

The ANSIEC Chairman, who also doubles as the State Chief Electoral Officer, was flanked by other members of the Commission, including Osita Cyril Igbokwe Esq. (Commissioner in Charge of Legal Matters and Security Services); Chief Sir Chinedu Anthony Nnalue (Member and Commissioner in Charge of Information); Mrs. Helen Ifeyinwa Umeh (Member and Commissioner in Charge of Logistics and Operations), Comrade Emeka Okeke (Member and Commissioner in Charge of Research), and L. E. Nwangwu Esq (Secretary of the Commission).

According to her, the last Local Government Elections in Anambra State were conducted in September 2024 by the same Commission and were widely adjudged to be free and credible, stressing that the Commission is determined to build on that record and even surpass it in 2026.

“This Commission is working tirelessly day and night to make sure, this dream of conducting a free and fair election come 2026 is attained,” she stated.

She emphasized that local government elections remain an indispensable component of the democratic process, as they guarantee representation, participation and decision-making at the grassroots level. Hon. Osakwe recalled that 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.

Hon. Osakwe disclosed that the Commission had already 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, adding that the actual election will hold on Saturday, August 29, 2026, across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

She further revealed that 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 announced that political party primaries for the nomination of candidates will run from Thursday, December 18, 2025, to Monday, February 16, 2026. She stressed that ANSIEC officials must be present to observe every primary election, adding that no primaries conducted behind ANSIEC, conducted without at least one week’s prior notice to the Commission, or conducted the same date with another party’s primary would be recognized. She further advised all political parties to nominate responsible and worthy persons as their candidates during their primaries.

She also 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.

Credential screening for councillorship candidates, according to her, will be conducted between Saturday, February 28, and Monday, March 2, 2026, while chairmanship candidates will have their credentials screened from Wednesday, March 4, to Friday, March 6, 2026.

She added that the 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.

Hon. Osakwe further announced that 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. She also 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.

According to the timetable, submission of names of polling agents by political parties is fixed for Tuesday, June 30, 2026, while 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; while run-off or re-run election (if any) will be conducted on September 12, 2026.

Hon. Osakwe reminded 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.

She also 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.

The ANSIEC Chairman cautioned all political parties that campaigns must be issue-based and devoid of name-calling, blackmail or campaigns of calumny. She announced 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 further warned that political parties must stop all campaigns 48 hours to the election, adding that party agents must submit passports, signatures and full names, with proper identity tags to be worn during the election.

Hon. Osakwe used the occasion to passionately 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, pledging that the Commission will remain impartial and ensure a level playing ground for all.

“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 Commission pledges to be open and fair to all stakeholders and to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties,” she concluded.

Speaking on behalf of IPAC, the Anambra State Chairman of IPAC and State Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Comrade Uche Ugwoji, 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.

Comrade Ugwoji noted 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, even as he also re-emphasized the need for continuous dialogue between the Commission and stakeholders.

He 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.

Also 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. Lending her voice, the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, Grace Chioma Ifemeludike, called for special attention to women and youths and emphasized that credibility and character, not money, should be the overriding criteria in candidate selection.

Amid the concerns raised, many IPAC members expressed high expectations and confidence in the capacity, integrity and leadership of the ANSIEC Chairperson and her team to successfully deliver a transparent, credible and peaceful Local Government Election in 2026.