The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has announced Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as the date for the conduct of local government council elections across all 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Plangji Cishak, unveiled the comprehensive election timetable during a press briefing held at the PLASIEC headquarters in Jos on Friday.
Cishak stated that the schedule was reviewed to ensure strict adherence to regulations and guidelines aligned with the Electoral Act. He attributed the timeline to “administrative and operational considerations” aimed at delivering a credible, inclusive, and well-coordinated electoral process.
Citing the legal framework for the poll, the Chairman referenced Section 19(2) of the PLASIEC Rule 2024, which stipulates that elections shall be held not earlier than 90 days before the expiration of the tenure of incumbent office holders. He further noted that Section 33 (1) of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Law empowers the commission to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the election date.
Key Election Activities and Dates
The Commission released an adjusted schedule of critical activities leading to the election day:
· Sale of Nomination Forms: March 18 – 19, 2026
· Publication of Particulars of Candidates: March 21, 2026
· Verification/Screening of Chairmanship Candidates: March 23 – 24, 2026
· Verification of Ward Councillor Candidates: March 25 – 28, 2026
· Publication of List of Qualified Candidates: March 30, 2026
· Publication of Final List of Nominated Candidates: April 9, 2026
· Commencement of Campaigns: April 11, 2026
· End of Campaigns: September 7, 2026
· Election Day: September 9, 2026 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Chairman Cishak clarified that this new declaration does not invalidate the notice of election previously issued. He appealed to all political parties to submit their required notifications of election to the commission at least 21 days before their primaries.
He assured the public of PLASIEC’s commitment to collaborate with political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible election.
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