The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Imo State, has distanced itself from participating in the State Local Government Council elections scheduled for November 14, 2026, saying that the electoral process has already been manipulated.
The party made its position known through its Legal Directorate, State National Campaign Council, calling on the Federal Government to withhold statutory allocations meant for the 27 Local Government Areas.
Addressing journalists at the Campaign Council Secretariat in Owerri, the Legal Directorate led by Eze Eluchie alleged that the APC- led administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, have failed to follow due process and constitutional guidelines in organising the polls.
Eluchie accused the State Government of consistently undermining democratic governance at the grassroots level since January 2020.
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According to the party’s legal team, following the expiration of the two-year tenure of the councils elected in 2024, the State Governor again handed administrative supervision back to DAGS in September 2026 rather than conducting timely elections.
Citing Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees a system of democratically elected Local Government Councils, the NDC described the planned November 14 election by ISIEC as a coronation of selected persons rather than a credible democratic process.
“It is the position of the Nigeria Democratic Congress that those elected from this charade, which ISIEC is planning for November 14, must be treated as those who gained access to the office of Chairmen and Councillors of our 27 LGAs and 305 electoral wards by means not envisaged by the Nigerian Constitution,” Eluchie said.
NDC urged the Federal Government to halt the disbursement of Federal allocations to the 27 Local Government Councils should the election be held on November 14.
The party proposed that the funds be placed in an interest-yielding account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and released only after properly constituted democratic elections are held.
Drawing comparisons to past federal interventions in Osun and Lagos States, the directorate noted that special remedial measures could be put in place to ensure Local Government workers continue to receive their salaries while the main allocations remain secured.
Aside from the LGA polls, NDC also accused the State Signage and Advertising Agency, IMSAA, of attempting to stifle opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party alleged that the agency has imposed what it termed obnoxious, hefty, and prohibitive advertisement rates and taxes on campaign billboards and promotional materials.
The party claimed that the move was designed to restrict opposition parties’ right to free expression and limit their ability to reach the electorate.
The NDC indicated that it is taking formal steps to challenge the advertisement rates levied by IMSAA to ensure a level playing field for all political parties participating in the upcoming general elections.
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