WorldStage— The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has approached the High Court of Imo State in the Owerri Judicial Division, seeking an urgent order to halt the upcoming local government elections scheduled across the state on September 26, 2026.
In a suit filed against the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) and other relevant bodies, APGA is challenging the legality of the electoral process, citing extensive breaches of statutory requirements and prevailing electoral guidelines.
According to court documents, the opposition party claims that the election notice issued by ISIEC is highly defective.
APGA argues that the electoral commission failed to provide the mandatory statutory notice period required by law before fixing the poll date.
Furthermore, the party raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the voter register intended for the election, asserting that proper verification and distribution procedures were ignored, which could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters in the state.
To anchor its legal arguments, APGA cited a landmark 2025 Supreme Court judgment concerning the Rivers State local government elections.
The party contends that the apex court clearly established that compliance with statutory guidelines is a non-negotiable prerequisite for conducting valid local government polls.
APGA maintains that proceeding with the September 26 election under the current flawed framework would result in an exercise in futility, invalidating the democratic rights of the citizens of Imo State.
Political analysts observe that this lawsuit adds a fresh layer of complexity to the highly tense political climate in Imo State.
The local government election is highly anticipated, as it represents the first major grassroots political transition since the last major state-wide polls.
Various opposition figures have previously expressed deep mistrust regarding the readiness and impartiality of ISIEC, alleging that the commission is structured to favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As of Monday, September 21, 2026, the Imo State High Court has yet to fix a definitive date for the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
Meanwhile, legal representatives for APGA are pushing for an accelerated hearing, given that the scheduled election is only five days away.
With the countdown to September 26 underway, all eyes remain fixed on the Owerri High Court to see whether it will grant the injunction or clear the path for ISIEC to conduct the polls.
