From AMEDU JOSEPH, Lokoja
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has announced that local government elections in the state will hold on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Chairman of the Commission, Mamman Nda Eri, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting held recently in Lokoja, the state capital.
Eri explained that KOSIEC acted in accordance with the powers conferred on it by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2025.
“This notice is hereby published in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to publish a Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for the election,” he stated.
According to him, the elections will be conducted into the offices of chairmen of the 21 local government areas and councillors of the 239 electoral wards across Kogi State.
The KOSIEC helmsman further revealed that a detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 local government elections — including the conduct of party primaries, submission of candidates’ lists, publication of nominated candidates, commencement and end of campaigns and other pre-election activities — would be published by the Commission on Friday, October 24, 2025.
Eri stressed that only political parties duly registered and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be eligible to sponsor candidates for the elections, in line with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the KOSIEC Law 2025.
He therefore urged all political parties, aspirants and stakeholders to adhere strictly to the electoral timetable, the Electoral Act 2022, the KOSIEC Law 2025, and the Commission’s Guidelines to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections across the state.