Edo council election to hold July 11, 2026, EDSIEC announces
By John Ewah
The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has released a fresh time table and schedule of activities for council election in Edo State.
The EDSIEC Chairman, Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, made the announcement on Wednesday July 15, 2025, during a press briefing.
Recall that the council Chairmen who were elected in September 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly on December 17, 2024.
Prior to their suspension, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, had written a petition to the House of Assembly over the refusal of the Chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the State Government, which the House deliberated on before pronouncing suspension on the council Chairmen and their deputies.
Governor Monday Okpebholo further accused the suspended council Chairmen of diverting about N12 billion to an unverified account linked to leaders of the PDP, in 15 months.
The issue had generated a continuous legal battle between the Governor and the Edo State House of Assembly on the one hand, and the suspended Chairmen and the PDP on the other hand. The suspended council Chairmen and the PDP had sought legal redress for what they considered a violation of the people’s will and abuse of office by the Governor
Local government councils in the State since the development, have been under the supervision of Acting Chairmen appointed by Governor Okpebholo.
While the matter lingers still, in what seemed like a surprising twist of event on Wednesday July 15, 2025, EDSIEC released a new time table for a fresh round of local government council election.
The EDSIEC Chairman said that the notice of council election was in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Edo State Local Government Electoral Law 2012, and Edo State Independent Electoral Commission Establishment (Re-enacted) (Amendment 1) Law 2022.
He stated that the election into the offices of the Chairmen and Councillors for the 18 local government councils in the State shall be held on Saturday July 11, 2026, and that all registered political parties are required to collect nomination forms on behalf of their candidates at EDSIEC headquarters, Plot 116, Oko-Ogba, Airport Road, Benin City.
Below is the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 local government election as announced by EDSIEC:
“Wednesday, 16th July, 2025: Publication of Notice of Election by EDSIEC: Section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that the notice of election shall be published not later than 360 days before the election.
Tuesday, 3rd November, 2025: Meeting with Political Parties for the Election Guidelines
Monday 10th November, 2025: Conduct of Party Primaries including resolution of disputes – To enable Political Parties democratically nominate candidates for the election.
Saturday 29th November, 2025: Arising from the primaries and observation of the same by EDSIEC – As required by Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Monday 8th – Monday 22nd December, 2025: Collection of Nomination Forms (A, A1, and M) by Political Parties.
Monday 15th December, 2025 – Monday 5th January, 2026 – Submission of Nomination Forms (A, A1, and M) by Political Parties – Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides for not later than 180 days before the election.
Monday 12th January, 2026: Publication of Personal Particulars of Candidates of Political Parties at the Local Government Offices and EDSIEC Headquarters by ESEIEC:- Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides for publication within 7 days of the receipt of the form.
Monday 19th January, 2026: Last day for the withdrawal by candidates(s)/replacement of withdrawn candidate(s) by Political Parties: – Section 33 31 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides not later than 90 days before the election for withdrawal or be replaced. (To accommodate 14 14-day period for the conduct of primaries to replace dead or withdrawn candidates in Section 33)
Friday 30th January, 2026: Last day for submission of nomination forms signed by nominees whose names are on the voters register:- To enable Political Parties comply with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Monday 9th February, 2026: Publication by EDSIEC of final list of Political Parties’ nominated candidate:- Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides at least 150 days before the day of the election to publish the final nomination list of candidates.
Wednesday 11th February, 2026: Commencement of campaign by Political Parties in Public:- Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. Campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.
Monday 18th May, 2026: Last day for submission of names of Polling Agents for the election to the Electoral Officers (EO) of the Local Government Areas by the Political Parties:- Section 43 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides for not later than 14 days before the election.
Saturday, 27th June, 2026: Publication of Notice of Poll by EDSIEC:- Section 44 of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides for not later than 14 days before the election to public Notice of Poll.
Thursday 9th July, 2026: Last day for campaign by Political Parties:- Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022. Campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that DAY.
Saturday, 11th July, 2026: Date of Election:- Section 103(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 empowers the Commission to appoint a date for Local Government election not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.
Saturday 25th July, 2026: Run off/Re-run Election(s) (if any)”
