ENUGU RESTRICTS MOVEMENT FOR SATURDAY LG POLL

The Enugu State Government and the state Police Command have announced restrictions on movement across the state on Saturday, September 26, 2026, ahead of the local government elections.

The election, organised by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, will produce chairmen for the 17 Local Government Councils and councillors for the 260 wards. The commission had scheduled the poll for September 26, 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, said vehicular movement and other forms of transportation would be restricted from 6am to 4pm on election day.

The state government said the measure was aimed at ensuring a peaceful, orderly, secure and hitch-free election.

Those exempted from the restriction include ENSIEC officials and accredited election personnel, security personnel deployed for election duties, accredited election observers, authorised media practitioners, health workers, ambulances, firefighters and other persons carrying out essential election or emergency duties.

The government urged residents, political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to comply with the directive and conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.

It also said security agencies had been directed to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order throughout the exercise.

In a separate statement, the police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, had ordered the restriction of human and vehicular movement from 8am to 4pm on election day.

The police said the restriction would not apply to persons on essential duties and duly accredited election officials.

Giwa also barred quasi-security outfits from participating in election security and directed armed security personnel assigned to VIP escort duties not to accompany VIPs to polling units.

The police commissioner assured residents and the electorate of adequate security before, during and after the election, saying the command would work with other security agencies to maintain a safe environment.

The election will cover the 17 chairmanship positions and 260 councillorship seats across the state. Security agencies have said arrangements have been concluded for the poll and that personnel would be deployed before, during and after the exercise.

The Commissioner urged eligible voters to turn out and exercise their franchise peacefully.

He also warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against electoral malpractice, violence and other acts capable of disrupting the election, stressing that violators would face the law.

The police urged residents to report suspicious persons or activities capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the election to the nearest police station or through the numbers provided by the command.