INEC Confirms August 16 for Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially scheduled August 16 as the date for long-awaited by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states.
INEC Chairman Provides Key Details
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu shared the details during the commission’s quarterly dialogue with political parties in Abuja on Thursday.
He said 30,451 officials would be deployed to manage the voting process for 3,553,659 registered voters spread across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.
According to Yakubu, several vacancies needing by-elections have emerged since June 2023, when the national and state assemblies were inaugurated. He reminded attendees that nine such elections had already been conducted in February 2025 due to deaths or resignations, with more recent ones yet to be addressed.
Legal and Security Hurdles Impact Plans
Yakubu revealed that while vacancies were declared in some states, by-elections would not take place in certain constituencies. For instance, the Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State is exempt due to the prevailing state of emergency. In Zamfara, a pending legal case has halted the process in the Kauran Namoda South area.
INEC personnel verifying voter identities using BVAS technology during recent elections.
The affected zones for the upcoming elections include:
Senatorial Districts: Anambra South and Edo Central
Federal Constituencies: Ovia South-West/Ovia South-East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North (Ogun), Ibadan North (Oyo)
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State Constituencies: 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)
Two rerun elections ordered by the court will also be held in Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano) constituencies, both previously disrupted by violence.
Yakubu outlined a strict timeline for the polls: primaries will take place from July 17–21, nominations will be submitted online between July 22 and 26, and campaigning will begin on August 2 and close on August 14 — 24 hours before election day.
Further information will be shared soon via the commission’s official website and media platforms.
