NIGERIA: OYSIEC Reschedules Oyo LG Elections To December 29, 2026

By Hamzat Ameenat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission has announced December 29, 2026, as the new date for the conduct of local government council elections across Oyo State.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the commission’s chairman, Babatunde Afees Adeniyi, and made available to journalists in Ibadan.

According to the commission, the election was previously scheduled for January 16, 2027, but had to be moved following changes to the national electoral timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The statement read: “The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission hereby informs political parties, security agencies, stakeholders and the general public that the Local Government Election earlier scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 29, 2026 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.”

The commission explained that the adjustment became necessary after INEC moved the presidential and National Assembly elections from February 20, 2027, to January 16, 2027.

OYSIEC said: “This decision became necessary following the recent revision of the national electoral timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which moved the Presidential and National Assembly elections from February 20, 2027, to January 16, 2027 — a date previously scheduled by OYSIEC for the conduct of Local Government Elections in Oyo State.”

The commission noted that the rescheduling was aimed at avoiding operational and logistical conflicts between the two electoral exercises.

It added: “After due consultation, the commission resolved to reschedule the election to Tuesday, December 29, 2026, in order to prevent operational congestion, ensure optimal security deployment, protect voter participation, maintain administrative clarity and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.”

Adeniyi further stated that electioneering campaigns by political parties would end at midnight on December 28, 2026, while any rerun election would hold on January 5, 2027.

He urged political parties and other stakeholders to continue preparations in line with the revised timetable, assuring that the commission remained committed to conducting a peaceful, transparent and

credible election.