By Rafiyat Sadiq
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 16 outstanding bye-elections will be conducted across 12 states of the federation on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The commission will also resume Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide beginning August 18, 2025.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made these disclosures during the second regular consultative meeting with political party representatives held Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that bye-elections had become necessary following vacancies in the National and State Assemblies.
INEC, he said, would deploy 30,451 officials to manage the process involving 3,553,659 registered voters in 32 local government areas, 356 wards and 6,987 polling units.
Breakdown of Vacant Seats
The bye-elections will cover two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies.
The senatorial seats are in Anambra South and Edo Central.
The federal constituencies include Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo).
The nine state constituencies where bye-elections will be held 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).
However, INEC said that bye-elections will not be held in Khana II (Rivers State) due to a state of emergency and Talata Mafara South (Zamfara State) as a result of ongoing legal issues regarding the declaration of vacancy.
Re-run Elections to Hold Same Day
INEC will also conduct two court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano State) on the same day. These elections were previously disrupted by violence but are now scheduled following security assurances.
Election Timetable
The timetable for the bye-elections includes:
- Party primaries: July 17 to 21, 2025
- Submission of nominations: July 22 to 26, 2025 (via INEC’s online portal)
- Start of public campaigns: August 2, 2025
- End of campaigns: Midnight, August 14, 2025
Yakubu reminded political parties of the three-week window between July 21 and August 11 to upload candidates’ details. He warned that the portal would automatically close at 6:00 p.m. on August 11, 2025, and urged compliance with the deadline to allow for public scrutiny and objections as provided by law.
Voter Registration Resumes
The commission has approved the resumption of the CVR exercise in two phases.
In Anambra State, ahead of the governorship election, registration will hold from July 8 to 17, 2025, across all 326 wards, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends.
New voters, voters transferring registration, and those seeking replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be allowed to register.
Nationwide, online CVR will resume on August 18, 2025, while physical registration at INEC offices in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the 774 Local Government Areas will begin on August 25, 2025.
Yakubu clarified that online pre-registration is not currently available for Anambra State and emphasised that all registration activities must conclude at least 90 days before any election, as required by law.
Warning Against Misuse of State Resources
The INEC Chairman also raised concern over recurring complaints by opposition parties, particularly in Anambra State, regarding denial of access to public facilities such as media, buildings, and rally spaces.
He said that in many cases, exorbitant fees are imposed for outdoor advertisements and that such practices violate the Electoral Act 2022.
He pledged that the commission would collaborate with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to consider legal action against any offenders.
“As campaign activities commence in Anambra State, I wish to draw attention to the perennial complaints by especially opposition parties about the denial of access to public facilities for electioneering activities,” he said. “These include the state media, public buildings for meetings and open spaces for rallies and processions.”
Yakubu added that INEC would continue to promote equal access and uphold fairness in the democratic process as the country prepares for the bye-elections and other upcoming polls.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.