Oyo Reschedules Council Poll, Fixes Exercise For December 2026

 

Oyo state independent electoral commission has fixed Tuesday, December 29, this year, for the conduct of local government elections across the 33 local government areas of the state.

The development, according to the commission, followed the revision of the presidential and national assembly polls timetable by the independent national electoral commission (INEC) from February 20 to January 16, next year.

Chairman of the commission, Babatunde Adeniyi, who made this known to newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital, said the exercise will take place between 8am and 3pm.

Adeniyi explained that the new date clashed with the initial date set for the conduct of council poll in the state, creating an operational and logistical overlap.

He added that the commission had consulted with the political parties, security agencies, and other stakeholders of the new arrangement which is aimed at preventing the operational congestion, ensure optimal security deployment, protect voter participation and maintain administrative clarity, as well as safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

According to the OYSIEC boss, the electioneering campaigns by political parties will end at midnight on Monday, December 28, 2026, while a rerun election will hold on Tuesday, January 5, 2027, if necessary.

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, 16 January 2027, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 29 December 2026, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

“This decision became necessary following the recent revision of the national electoral timetable by the Independent 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 – thereby creating an operational and logistical overlap.

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

Adeniyi, however, asked the political parties and relevant stakeholders to continue their preparations in accordance with the revised timetable, as the commission is set to conduct a peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive council poll.