ENUGU, NIGERIA — The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission has declared that it is over 90 per cent ready for the local government elections scheduled for September 26, 2026, with electoral materials ready for dispatch to the 17 local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of ENSIEC, Prof. Christian Chukwuemeka Eze, made the disclosure on Monday during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Enugu. He said the commission had completed the training of ad-hoc staff, the configuration of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System devices, and the printing of ballot papers and result sheets. He also said the commission had received the full complement of non-sensitive materials and was awaiting the delivery of sensitive materials.
“We are over 90 per cent ready for the September 26 local government election. All arrangements are in place to ensure a free, fair, credible, and transparent exercise,” Eze stated. “The electoral materials are ready for dispatch to the various local government areas, and our staff have been adequately trained for the exercise.”
The ENSIEC chairman said the commission had deployed 15,000 ad-hoc staff for the election, including presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and collation officers. He said the commission had also engaged with security agencies to ensure adequate security across the state on election day.
Eze appealed to political parties and their candidates to abide by the rules of the electoral process and to conduct themselves peacefully before, during, and after the election. He warned that the commission would not hesitate to disqualify any candidate or party found violating the electoral guidelines.
“We have provided a level playing field for all political parties. We expect them to reciprocate by ensuring that their supporters do not engage in violence, vote-buying, or any other electoral malpractice,” he said.
The ENSIEC chairman also disclosed that the commission had introduced new measures to enhance transparency, including the electronic transmission of results from polling units to the collation centres. He said the commission had tested the system in previous elections and was confident it would work effectively.
“The electronic transmission of results will reduce the incidence of manipulation and ensure that the will of the people prevails,” Eze said. “We are committed to delivering an election that all Enugu residents will be proud of.”
Political parties in the state have welcomed the commission’s declaration of readiness, with the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress expressing confidence in the electoral body. The PDP state chairman, Abayomi Tella, said the party was ready for the election and would ensure a peaceful campaign. The APC state chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, said the party was confident of victory and urged its supporters to be law-abiding.
Civil society organisations in the state have also called on ENSIEC to ensure that the election is credible and transparent. The Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said it would deploy observers across the state to monitor the exercise and report any irregularities.
As the countdown to the election continues, all eyes are on ENSIEC to deliver a credible local government election that reflects the will of the people. The commission has assured residents that it is prepared for the task, and that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and successful exercise.
