APGA tells Imo High Court to stop September 26 council elections

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has asked the High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division, to stop the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) from conducting the local government elections scheduled for September 26, 2026.

In Suit No. HOW/1380/2026, filed on September 16, APGA and four state executives are seeking an injunction restraining ISIEC and its chairman from proceeding with the poll pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The plaintiffs argued that ISIEC’s 360-day Notice of Election issued on September 18, 2025, was defective because it did not specify the election date, contrary to the requirements of the Electoral Act.

They also contended that ISIEC’s September 11, 2026, announcement fixing the election for September 26 came too late and could not cure the alleged defect in the earlier notice.

APGA cited a 2025 Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers State local government elections, arguing that compliance with statutory requirements, including the Notice of Election and voters’ register provisions, is mandatory.

The plaintiffs further argued that the Electoral Act 2022, under which the 2025 notice was issued, has since been repealed by the Electoral Act 2026, which commenced in February.

They also questioned whether ISIEC complied with the statutory requirements for the Register of Voters, including the 90-day period for the cessation of registration and revision.