The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) says there will be no automatic victory for any chairmanship candidate in Saturday, August 29, 2026, local government elections, even where only one candidate is contesting a chairmanship seat.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday at a pre-election briefing at the commission’s secretariat in Awka, ANSIEC Commissioner for Information and Publicity, Sir Tony Chinedu, said sole candidates must still secure the required majority of “Yes” votes to be declared winners.

He explained that where two or more candidates are contesting a chairmanship position, the election would proceed through the normal voting process, with the candidate who polls the highest number of votes declared the winner.

However, where only one candidate is on the ballot, voters will be required to vote “Yes” or “No” for the candidate.

“A sole candidate will not be declared the winner automatically,” Chinedu said. “The candidate must secure at least two-thirds of the ‘Yes’ votes cast to be declared elected. If there is a predominant ‘No’ vote against the candidate, the election will be declared inconclusive and the process will start afresh from the party primaries.”

The commissioner noted that the same “Yes/No” principle would not apply to councillorship elections, adding that councillors would emerge through the normal voting process.

Chinedu disclosed that 22 candidates had been screened for the 21 local government chairmanship positions.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) fielded candidates in all 21 chairmanship positions, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielded one candidate.

For councillorship, he said 346 candidates had been screened for the 326 wards across the state.

The commissioner said the commission was “over 90 per cent ready” for the polls, adding that preparations had reached an advanced stage.

He said the recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel had been concluded, with training conducted in the state’s three senatorial zones on separate days.

Chinedu also said the evacuation of non-sensitive materials to designated locations had commenced, while sensitive materials would be moved to their respective areas on Saturday morning.

On possible court actions, he said the commission would not be deterred.

“The court will not stop our election,” he declared.

He added that the tenure of the incoming local government chairmen remained two years.

Chinedu recalled that ANSIEC had earlier fixed August 29, 2026, for the elections, noting that the process had now reached its final stage.

He said only APGA and YPP had indicated interest in the election, adding that the commission had screened their candidates and published their names.

The commissioner also said the commission had approved substitutions where necessary and that all other arrangements were being finalised ahead of the polls.

On the lawsuit by about 56 councillors seeking postponement of the council election, Chinedu said the court action would not stop the scheduled poll.