INEC Schedules Bye-Elections in 12 States for August 16

INEC Schedules Bye-Elections in 12 States for August 16

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Saturday, August 16, 2025, as the date for 16 bye-elections in 12 states across Nigeria. These elections will fill vacant seats in both national and state assemblies.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced this decision during a meeting with political parties in Abuja. He also revealed that over 30,000 INEC officials will be deployed for the exercise.

Key Details:

• Bye-elections will cover:
  
• Two senatorial districts: Anambra South and Edo Central
  
• Five federal constituencies: Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo)
  
• Nine 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)
  
• Voter Impact:
  About 3.5 million registered voters across 32 LGAs, 356 wards, and nearly 7,000 polling units are eligible to participate.
  
• Exceptions:
  Bye-elections will not be held in Khana II (Rivers State) due to the ongoing state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South (Zamfara State) because of a legal dispute.
  
• Party primaries:
  Scheduled for July 17–21, 2025
  Nomination portal opens July 22 and closes July 26, 2025
  
• Campaigns:
  Allowed from August 2 to midnight August 14, 2025

Additional Elections

INEC will also conduct two court-ordered re-run elections on August 16 in Enugu South I (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano State). These were previously disrupted by violence.

Voter Registration Resumes

INEC has approved the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR):

• Anambra State:
  July 8–17, 2025 (for the upcoming governorship election), in all 326 wards, 9am–3pm daily, including weekends
  
• Nationwide CVR:
  
• Online pre-registration starts August 18, 2025
  
• In-person registration follows from August 25, 2025, at all state and local government INEC offices
  
• During this period, new voters can register, existing voters can update their details or replace lost/damaged PVCs, and uncollected PVCs will be available for pickup.

Prof. Yakubu also reminded political parties to avoid denying opposition access to public facilities or media during campaigns, warning that legal action would be taken against offenders in collaboration with IPAC and ARCON.

He concluded by stating that all voter registration must end at least 90 days before any election, in line with the law, and reminded parties that FCT Area Council primaries close on June 30, 2025.