The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct bye-elections into 16 constituencies across the country on August 16.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced that these elections will fill vacancies in two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state assembly seats.
The affected constituencies include Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts; Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo) Federal Constituencies.
The nine state assembly seats are Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North I (Anambra), Dekina/Okura (Kogi), Zaria Kewaye and Basawa (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono (Kano), Mariga (Niger), Karim Lamido I (Taraba), and Kauran Namoda South (Zamfara).
Yakubu, who announced this at a meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Thursday, said 30,451 officials would be deployed to conduct a series of by-elections to fill vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies across 12 states.
Yakubu said that the election will cover 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.
He explained that the vacancies arose from resignations, deaths, and court-ordered annulments.
INEC, however, confirmed that bye-elections will not be conducted in two State Constituencies: Khana II in Rivers State, due to a state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State due to ongoing court cases.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between July 17 and 21 while submission of nomination forms will be done online from July 22 to 26, with campaign activities starting on August 2 to August 14.
In addition to the by-elections, Yakubu announced that two court-ordered re-run elections—Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano)—will also be held on August 16. The re-runs were previously disrupted by violence.
Yakubu also disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration(CVR) exercise would resume nationwide. Online pre-registration will commence on August 18, followed by physical registration on August 25.
He said: “For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved the resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all the States of the Federation.
“The online pre-registration will start on August 18, 2025 while the in-person registration will follow on August 25, 2025. The exercise will be held simultaneously in all our 37 State and FCT offices as well as our 774 Local Government offices nationwide. Detailed schedule of activities will be released shortly.”
Ahead of the Anambra State governorship election, a separate voter registration exercise will be held in all the 326 wards from July 8 to 17.
Yakubu encouraged eligible voters, including those seeking transfers or replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, to participate.
He said: “In view of the forthcoming Governorship election, the CVR in Anambra State will commence in the 326 Wards across the State on July 8, 2025 and end on July 17, 2025 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including the weekend.
“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra State from other States of the Federation or from one location to another within the State will have the opportunity to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards are lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for a replacement..Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.
“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register. The online pre-registration option is not available for the time being.
“Voter registration and the compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.”
Yakubu also said: “The commission has already published the final list of 16 candidates and their running mates for the election. Campaign in public by political parties commenced two weeks ago on June 11, 2025 and will continue until midnight of Thursday November 6, 2025 i.e. 24 hours prior to Election Day.
“During this period, we expect Political Parties to adhere to our Regulations and Guidelines for meetings, rallies and processions already available on our website. However, considering the importance of the matter to the forthcoming elections, hard copies of the document are included in your folders for this meeting.”
On the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, Yakubu said going by the timetable and schedule of activities, party primaries must end on Monday June 30.
” You have the next three weeks to tidy up your documentation and upload the list of your candidates to the dedicated portal from July 21 to August 11, 2025.
“I wish to remind you that the portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm on August 11, 2025. I urge you to adhere strictly to the procedure and timelines for candidate nomination, particularly considering the legal requirement for the Commission to publish the personal particulars of candidates in the various constituencies for claims and objections by citizens within one week from the deadline for submission of nominations,” he declared.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council(IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, urged political stakeholders and INEC to prioritise rebuilding trust in the country’s electoral system.
Speaking on behalf of leaders of political parties, Dantalle highlighted the critical role IPAC plays in ensuring electoral integrity and political stability.
He acknowledged improvements in recent elections but expressed concern over consistently low voter turnout, which he attributed to public mistrust in the electoral process, fear of violence, and disillusionment with candidates who fail to fulfill campaign promises.
“This is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately,” he said, stressing that active citizen participation is essential for sustaining democracy and national development.
In preparation for the upcoming FCTA Council elections, IPAC urged political parties to conduct transparent and constitutionally compliant primaries, warning against the imposition of candidates.
Dantalle also appealed for issue-based campaigns ahead of the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election, urging politicians to shun divisive rhetoric and bitterness.
The IPAC chairman further encouraged INEC to leverage technology, including centralised Artificial Intelligence governance, to improve the credibility of elections.
According to him, such innovations could enhance decision-making, risk management, and voter engagement, ultimately preventing technical glitches that might undermine public confidence.
He said: “IPAC urges leaders of political parties to conduct transparent primaries for the upcoming Federal Capital Territory Area Council election. The integrity of the electoral process starts with parties’ primaries where candidates are nominated for various offices.
“Parties are urged to comply with the provisions of their constitutions for rancour-free exercises and desist from imposition of candidates.
“IPAC further urges political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns for the 8th November 2025, Anambra State governorship election. Politicians and their supporters should eschew politics of bitterness that impedes the nation’s emerging democracy.
“The Anambra gubernatorial poll provides yet another opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its capacity to conduct a credible election leveraging on effective application of its new technologies through centralised Artificial Intelligence governance that will enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, risk management, voter engagement, predictive analytics, automation and intelligent safeguards.
“This will strengthen electoral credibility and integrity, as well as prevent glitches that could erode confidence in elections. IPAC supports any effort to strengthen democratic institutions in the country.”
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