From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has given notice that the next local government election will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The Chairman of PLASIEC, Mr Plangji Daniel Cishak, who gave the notice at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Jos on Thursday, said that this notice was in fulfilment of Section 33(1) of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law, which mandates it to issue notice of the election not later than three hundred and sixty (360) days before the date of the elections.
He said that the new date was chosen pursuant to section 19(2) of PLASIEC Law 2024, which stipulates that election into the said offices shall be held not later than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office, adding, “The latest date for the conduct of elections in the Local Government Councils in Plateau State is 1st September, 2026.”
His briefing further reads in part, “As part of its mandate and in compliance with Sections 15, 19, 21 and 33 of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2024, Section 197(1)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Electoral Act, 2022, the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) wishes to notify the leadership of all political parties and the general public that elections shall be conducted in the seventeen (17) Local Government Councils of Plateau State on Tuesday, 1st September, 2026 between 8.00am and 3.00pm.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Commission’) by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2024 and all powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby issues this Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2026 Local Government Elections in Plateau State.”
Giving a breakdown of the activities, Cishak said that the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, would be from Monday, January 12, 2026 to Friday, January 30, 2026 to enable political parties to democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by Section 34 PLASIEC Law 2024.
Thereafter, collection of nomination forms (Form PEC 001 & Form PEC 4C) for candidates by political parties would be from Monday, February 2, 2026 to Friday, February 6, 2026, under Sections 34 and 35 of the PLASIEC Law, 2024.
“Submission of Nomination Forms (Form PEC 001 & Form PEC 4C) for candidates by political parties, Monday, February 9, 2026 to Monday, March 2, 2026, Section 35 of the PLASIEC Law, 2024, and 29(1) Electoral Act, 2022.”
All other activities, he said, would follow the same order, culminating in the publication of the list of qualified/cleared candidates by PLASIEC on Thursday, March 19, 2026, under Section 39(2) & (3) of the PLASIEC Law, 2024; receiving of appeal cases by PLASIEC on Friday, March 20, 2026, under Section 39(2) & (3) of the PLASIEC Law, 2024.
The election day would be Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 8.00am to 3.00pm, according to Section 33 of the PLASIEC Law, 2024.