The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has announced that the local government elections in the state will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The chairman of the commission, Mamman Nda Eri, made the announcement during a stakeholder meeting in Lokoja, where he formally issued the election notice in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions.
Eri said KOSIEC’s decision was in accordance with the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Act, 2025.
“This notice is hereby published in accordance with Section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to publish a notice of election no later than 360 days before the date designated for the election,” it said.
According to him, elections will be held for the positions of Chairman of the 21 Local Government Areas and Councilors of the 239 Constituencies in Kogi State.
Eri also announced that the detailed calendar and schedule of activities for the 2026 local government elections, including the conduct of party primaries, the submission and publication of candidate lists, the campaign period and other pre-election activities, will be published on Friday, October 24, 2025.
He stressed that only political parties duly registered and recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be eligible to sponsor candidates, in accordance with relevant laws and guidelines.
The KOSIEC Chairman urged all political parties, aspirants and stakeholders to strictly adhere to the electoral calendar, the Electoral Act, 2022, the KOSIEC Act, 2025 and the Guidelines to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections across the state.
He recalled that the current presidents and councilors of local governments took the oath on October 23, 2024, for a two-year term, as established by the state’s electoral law.
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