Seven political parties have signed a peace accord ahead of the September 26, 2026 Enugu State Local Government Council elections.
The parties pledged to maintain peace, respect the electoral process and avoid violence before, during and after the polls.
The seven parties include the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party and National Rescue Movement (NRM). Others are the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
The peace accord comes days before residents across the state head to the polls to elect council chairmen and councillors. ENSIEC has scheduled the election for all 17 local government areas, with 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions up for contest.
The development comes amid heightened political activity across Enugu State. Parties have continued their campaigns and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the local government election.
Recent political activities include APC campaigns in Enugu East ahead of the September 26 election, as parties intensify efforts to reach voters across the state.
ENSIEC Calls for Peaceful Enugu LG Polls
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Prof. Christian Ngwu, said the accord would promote peaceful conduct.
Ngwu was represented at the event by ENSIEC Commissioner One, Dr Solomon Udeh. He said political parties, candidates and their supporters must maintain decorum throughout the electoral process.
According to him, the agreement commits participating parties to peaceful, non-violent, free and inclusive participation.
The ENSIEC chairman also urged candidates and supporters to respect their opponents, security agencies and the electoral process. He further called on all parties to respect the results declared after the election.
The commission’s position follows its earlier assurance that it would provide a level playing field for participating candidates. ENSIEC recently said it was more than 90 per cent ready for the September 26 polls.
The commission has also been preparing electoral materials, personnel, logistics and security arrangements ahead of election day.
For more on the commission’s preparations, read ENSIEC says it is over 90% ready for the Enugu LG polls.
Parties Urged to Respect Electoral Rules
Ngwu said political parties must resolve internal disputes peacefully and conduct their campaigns within the rules.
He also urged party officials, agents and supporters to follow guidelines designed to promote transparency and credibility.
“Political parties, their candidates and supporters must ensure peaceful resolution of internal party matters and ensure peaceful campaigns,” he said.
The ENSIEC chairman added that the commission had concluded most of its preparations for the election.
“We are already concluding all arrangements for the polls and the commission have put in place all necessary requirements for a hitch-free polls come Saturday, Sept. 26,” he said.
ENSIEC had earlier announced that it would conduct the election across the state’s 17 local government areas. The commission also said it had been working with security agencies to create a secure environment for voters and election officials.
The latest development also follows earlier reports on ENSIEC’s preparations for the September 26 Enugu LG election.
APC Pledges Commitment to Peaceful Election
Responding to the peace accord, Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, said the party would support guidelines designed to ensure a peaceful election.
Chukwunweike said the APC’s campaigns and activities had remained peaceful throughout the electioneering period.
He added that the party had focused its campaigns on issues concerning residents and the development of the state.
“As a party, APC is noted for peace and respect for rules and regulations guiding political conducts and our candidates and supporters will maintain our ever peaceful disposition in the council polls,” he said.
The APC has also continued its campaign activities across the state ahead of the election. Its campaign in Enugu East recently featured the presentation of party flags to the chairmanship and councillorship candidates.
The party has similarly taken its campaign to other council areas. In Isi-Uzo, the APC recently flagged off its campaign ahead of the September 26 poll.
Related political developments have also included APC stakeholders backing candidates ahead of the Enugu election.
APGA Calls for Equal Treatment of Parties
The Enugu State Chairman of APGA, Mr Uche Ojielo, also responded to the agreement.
Ojielo urged ENSIEC to ensure that all participating political parties receive equal treatment throughout the electoral process.
He called on the commission to notify parties promptly about issues affecting the election.
The APGA chairman also assured the commission that his party would comply with the peace accord.
He said APGA would ensure that its activities before, during and after the election remained civil.
APGA is among the political parties participating in the September 26 election. ENSIEC previously identified APGA, APC, NDC, BOOT, NRM, APP and ADP among the parties participating in the poll.
The party’s commitment comes as ENSIEC continues preparations for the election across the state.
Enugu LG Election Covers 17 Councils
The September 26 election will cover all 17 local government areas in Enugu State.
ENSIEC has scheduled contests for 17 chairmanship positions and 260 councillorship seats. The commission has also continued preparations for electoral officials and other personnel ahead of the polls.
Earlier in the election process, ENSIEC screened candidates from several political parties participating in the election. The screening covered chairmanship and councillorship candidates across the state.
Political activities have continued across the state as candidates engage voters and party supporters.
For example, Enugu wards have declared support for Mbah and Ogbuekwe ahead of the election, while other political groups have also stepped up grassroots engagement.
The election is expected to determine the next set of elected local government leaders across Enugu State.
Peace Accord Comes Days Before Polls
The signing of the peace accord comes just days before voters go to the polls.
The parties have now formally committed themselves to peaceful campaigns and compliance with electoral rules.
The development also places responsibility on party candidates and supporters to avoid actions that could disrupt the voting process.
Earlier calls for peaceful participation have featured prominently in preparations for the election. ENSIEC has urged residents to participate without fear while assuring candidates of a level playing field.
The commission has also outlined behavioural expectations for voters during and after voting.
Meanwhile, political parties continue to mobilise supporters ahead of the election. Other recent developments include Ugwuakwa wards declaring support for Mbah and Ogbuekwe.
Parties Commit to Civil Conduct
The peace accord places emphasis on conduct before, during and after the election.
For the participating parties, the agreement requires candidates and supporters to respect opponents and follow the rules guiding the electoral process.
The development also comes against the background of increasing political activity in the state. Campaigns have continued across several local government areas as candidates seek support from voters.
The political atmosphere has also generated discussions around grassroots development and governance. Recent reports have covered Enugu’s economic development plans and political activities.
Other stakeholders have also continued to engage communities ahead of the election. These activities include community-level mobilisation and discussions around local development.
The September 26 election will therefore be closely watched as parties compete for control of the 17 local government councils.
ENSIEC Says Preparations Are Almost Complete
ENSIEC has said it is putting finishing touches to its preparations for the election.
The commission previously said most election materials were ready and that arrangements for security and logistics were nearing completion. It also said training arrangements for ad hoc personnel were underway.
The commission has continued to assure political parties that it will provide a level playing field.
Residents are also expected to participate peacefully and follow instructions issued by electoral and security officials.
The peace accord signed by the seven parties now adds another commitment to peaceful participation ahead of Saturday’s poll.
The development follows other preparations for the election, including ENSIEC’s notice on the September 26 Enugu LG polls.
With campaigns entering their final stage, attention will now shift toward election-day logistics, voter participation and the conduct of candidates and their supporters.
The seven parties have committed to peaceful participation, while ENSIEC has reiterated its responsibility to conduct the election according to its stated guidelines.
For more political developments from the state, see Enugu political stakeholders’ recent support for APC candidates and Princess Ugwu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The peace accord is expected to guide the conduct of the participating parties as Enugu residents prepare to vote on September 26.
