By Chisom Okpala
The Anambra State Government has suspended traditional rulership and town union elections scheduled for January and February 2027, directing affected communities to postpone their polls until after Easter 2027 to avoid clashes with political campaigns and the 2027 general elections.
The directive, which also affects elections scheduled for December 2026, was contained in a Public Service Announcement dated Oct. 7, issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs and signed by the Head of Town Union Matters, Mr. Tony Onyekomelu, on behalf of the commissioner.
Under the directive, communities scheduled to conduct traditional rulership or town union elections in December 2026 must hold them on or before November 2026. However, the formal handover to newly elected leaders must take place on the exact date the tenure of the incumbent leadership expires.
For communities whose elections fall in January or February 2027, the government has directed that the polls be postponed until after Easter 2027.
The government explained that the measure was necessary to prevent the election process from coinciding with political campaigns and activities surrounding the general elections scheduled for January and February 2027.
It urged traditional rulers, Presidents General of town unions, youth and women leaders, and other community stakeholders to comply strictly with the directive.
Copies of the announcement were forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Special Adviser on Community Security and the mayors of the 21 local government areas for information and necessary action.
Chisom Okpala is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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