The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, for the conduct of local government council elections across the state, formally kick-starting the roadmap toward grassroots democratic transition.
The commission announced the date in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan, following its inaugural meeting between the leadership and management team at the OYSIEC headquarters in Agodi. The meeting, according to the statement, centred on operational readiness and the commission’s statutory responsibility to deliver a peaceful, credible and widely acceptable election.
OYSIEC Chairman, Babatunde Adeniyi, said voting would take place between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in all designated polling units across the state’s 33 local government councils. He added that all electioneering activities would officially end at midnight on Friday, January 15, 2027, in line with electoral guidelines.
Adeniyi further disclosed that any run-off or re-run election arising from the polls would be conducted on Saturday, January 23, 2027, ensuring a clear contingency framework to conclude the process without undue delay.
The commission noted that the tenure of current chairmen and councillors in the 33 local government councils is scheduled to expire on May 23, 2027, as provided under the Local Government Law of Oyo State (as amended), making the January election a key step in guaranteeing continuity of governance at the local level.
OYSIEC stressed that it was acting within the powers conferred on it by relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Law, which authorise the commission to issue notices and conduct local government elections within the stipulated timeframe.
Calling for broad-based cooperation, the commission urged political parties, stakeholders and residents of the state to support the process and comply with electoral regulations to ensure the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
With the election date now officially set, attention is expected to shift to party primaries, voter mobilisation and campaign activities as political actors prepare for the contest for control of grassroots governance across Oyo State.