PLASIEC Shifts 2026 LG Poll Timetable, Extends Party Primaries

JOS – The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has announced adjustments to the timetable for the 2026 Local Government Elections, granting political parties an extended window to conduct their primaries.

The revision, approved by the commission, was necessitated by recent legislative changes, specifically the repeal of the Electoral Act of 2022 and its replacement with the new Electoral Act of 2026. This was disclosed in a statement by the commission’s secretary, Pam Gyang Davou, Esq.

PLASIEC had initially released the election schedule on Thursday, 4th September 2025, as mandated by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2024, and the now-replaced 2022 Electoral Act.

Under the new timeline, political parties are now required to hold their primaries over a one-month period, from Saturday, 7th March, to Tuesday, 7th April, 2026. This new deadline extends the previously set closing date of 12th March, 2026.

Following the primaries, the collection of nomination forms by political parties from the commission is slated for 8th to 10th April 2026. The submission of these completed forms will then be accepted from 13th to 17th April 2026.

The commission will publish the personal particulars of candidates on 20th April 2026. Screening exercises are scheduled to follow, with Chairmanship candidates and their running mates going first from 22nd to 25th April, and Councillorship candidates being screened from 26th to 30th April 2026.

According to the revised timetable, the list of qualified candidates will be made public on 20th May 2026. Aggrieved aspirants will have the opportunity to file appeals on 21st May, which will be heard the following day, 22nd May 2026.

The final list of nominated candidates is scheduled for release on 8th June 2026, with political campaigns officially kicking off nationwide on 9th June 2026.

While several dates have been moved, PLASIEC confirmed that other key activities remain as previously scheduled. This includes the publication of the official voter register on 21st July, the submission of polling agent names by parties on 12th August, and the Notice of Poll on 17th August 2026.

The campaign period will conclude at midnight on Monday, 7th September 2026. Voters across the seventeen Local Government Areas of Plateau State will head to the polls on Wednesday, 9th September 2026, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Reassuring stakeholders, PLASIEC reiterated its dedication to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, urging all political parties to strictly adhere to the newly released guidelines.