The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct hitch-free polls in the August 16 by-elections in Edo State, southern Nigeria.

Speaking during a media engagement, the Resident Electoral Commissioner dismissed speculation of possible bias, reiterating the commission’s neutrality and commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections.

The polls will be held in Edo Central Senatorial District to fill the seat left vacant by Senator Monday Okpebholo, now the state governor, and in Ovia Northeast and Ovia Southwest Federal Constituencies, following the elevation of Mr. Dennis Idahosa to deputy governor.

Nine political parties will contest the Edo Central senatorial seat, with analysts identifying the leading contenders as Joe Ikpea of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the upcoming by-elections in Anambra South Senatorial Zone and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency.

Set for Saturday, August 16, the electoral exercises follow the untimely deaths of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and Hon. Justice Azuka, who previously held these positions.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu announced that voting will occur in 210 wards across Anambra South and 118 wards in Onitsha North 1.

A total of 817,521 registered voters are expected to participate in the Anambra South by-election, while 92,223 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Onitsha North 1.

In response to concerns regarding the integrity of the elections, Agwu dismissed allegations of planned manipulation, urging the electorate to disregard rumours.

“I cannot rig an election when we have just completed training for our ad hoc staff and materials are still being distributed,” she asserted. “It is crucial that we protect our democracy and that each stakeholder adheres to the electoral code.”

The Commissioner of Police for Anambra, Ikioye Orutugu, also reassured voters of comprehensive security measures in place to safeguard the electoral process and the safety of all participants.

“Voters are encouraged to come out peacefully and exercise their civic rights without fear of intimidation.”

The necessity of the bye-elections arose from the unfortunate deaths of Ubah, who passed away on July 28 while hospitalised in London, and Azuka, whose body was found after being reported missing following a kidnapping in December.

Ubah was a prominent figure in the Young Progressive Party (YPP), winning his seat in a landslide in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 before switching to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

With the two by-elections approaching, candidates from various political parties are vying for the vacant seats. Among them, in Onitsha North 1, contenders include Ifeoma Azikiwe of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ezennia Chuka Ojekwe of the APC, and Njideka Ndiwe of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

In the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, notable candidates include Chidi Donald Amamgbo of the ADC, Azuka Okwuosa of the APC, Emmanuel Nwachukwu of the APGA, and Chris Uba of the PDP.

As the elections draw near, the stakes are high for both the candidates and the constituents who have been without representation for several months. Voter turnout is anticipated to reflect the community’s desire for leadership and accountability.

The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted media reports claiming that a Canadian court declared the party a terrorist organisation.

In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, clarified that the reports were erroneous and misleading.

According to the APC, the case in question involved Douglas Egharevba and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, where the applicant sought judicial review of a decision by the Canadian Immigration Appeal Division.

CANADIAN COURT DID NOT DECLARE APC A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

For the avoidance of doubt, we make bold to state that the court never made any determination on the question of terrorism in its decision. https://t.co/78DlGsI77A pic.twitter.com/MIsypZAXyl

— APC Nigeria (@OfficialAPCNg) August 15, 2025

On June 17, 2025, Judge Phuong T.V. Ngo dismissed the application, but the APC emphasised that this did not involve declaring the party a terrorist organisation.

According to the party, the only reference to APC in the entire 16-page decision was in the introductory “Background,” Paragraph 4, where the court referenced a “Background Declaration Form in which the applicant stated that ‘he was a member of the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] of Nigeria from December 1999 until December 2007 and a member of the All Progressives Congress [APC] party of Nigeria from December 2007 until May 2017.

“For the record, APC was not in existence as of 2007. The party was registered in 2013. The applicant’s claim of membership of APC as of 2007 is false, as he could not have been a member of APC, which didn’t exist at the time.”

The APC urges party faithful, supporters, and all Nigerians to disregard the reports as false and misleading, emphasising their lack of relevance and extraterritorial applicability.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed election materials ahead of the August 16 Kauran Namoda South State Constituency by-election in Zamfara State.

INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Yunusa Idris Barau, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Mahamuda Isah, led the distribution at the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Gusau, the state’s capital.

He said the materials would be handed over to all the ward electoral officials at Kyamberawa ward within Kauran Namoda local government area.

According to him, the officials would work hand in hand with security operatives in the local government to ensure the safety and security of the materials.

”Today, we are here with all the electoral officers, political party representatives, security operatives, media, observers, and other stakeholders to witness the distribution of these materials.

These materials include ballot papers, BVAS, and results sheets of state assembly results.

”Electoral officers would work hand in hand with Nigerian police and other security operatives to ensure the safety of the materials before final distribution to wards and polling units,” he said.

He said the electoral officers had been directed to ensure timely distribution across 509 polling units in the constituency.

Barau highlighted that the constituency to conduct the by-election consists of six wards that include Banga, Dan Isa, Kyamberawa, Kagara, Kuryan Madaro, and Sakajiki wards.

He explained that the constituency has a total of 109 polling units with 59,490 registered voters at the constituency.

Barau further said 14 political parties are contesting for the position in the forthcoming 16 August 2025 by-election in the area.

He noted that the Commission had earlier engaged extensively with stakeholders and security operatives to ensure peaceful conduct and a hitch-free exercise.

“The commission has held several meetings and peace accords with political parties, security agencies, and community leaders. The electorate has been fully educated, and from our side, we are fully prepared and committed to conduct the poll,” he added.

The by-election follows the death of the former representative, Hon. Aminu Ibrahim Kasuwar Daji, who was elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and passed away on April 9, 2025, and INEC also scheduled the poll for August 16, 2025, to fill the vacant position.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State has distributed sensitive materials to the four wards of the Okura 2 State Constituency in Dekina Local Government Area ahead of Saturday’s state assembly by-election.

The deployment took place on Friday at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lokoja.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State, Mr Oliver Agundu, said the election will be conducted in the 138 ‘Registration Areas’ across the four wards of the constituency.

The Electoral Commissioner said arrangements have been completed towards a hitch-free election, just as he urged eligible voters to come out to exercise their civic responsibility.

Agundu says 76,385 out of the 78,059 registered voters will be participating in the Saturday election.

“We have a total of 78,059 registered voters in the four wards of the Okura state constituency. But only 76 385 PVCs were collected. These are the only people who will be voting in the election.”

Giving the breakdown, the REC listed the wards to include Adamu Egume ward with 29 registration areas, Ojikpdala with 16 wards, Anyigba ward with 76 wards and Okura Olafia with 17 wards.

The Kogi INEC stated that the materials have arrived in Dekina for onwards distribution to the designated registration areas across the four wards of the constituency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a smooth and credible by-election in Otate, southwest Nigeria.

Voters in the Sagamu/Ikenne/Remo North Federal Constituency will head to the polls on Saturday, 16th August 2025, to elect a new representative to the House of Representatives, following the death of the former occupant of the seat, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga.

According to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Saseyi Feyijimi, sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been distributed to the three local governments involved in the election.

She explained that non-sensitive materials had been distributed earlier in the week, while the sensitive materials were the ones distributed on Friday.

Similarly, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Oyebisi Andu, said that enough awareness and sensitisation programmes had been carried out by the agency in collaboration with traditional rulers to have a peaceful, free and fair election.

Security agencies have also assured residents of adequate protection before, during and after the exercise.

Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), have been campaigning, urging their supporters to turn out in large numbers.

INEC had also reminded eligible voters to come along with their Permanent Voters Card, promising that accreditation and voting will proceed simultaneously from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm local time.