The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced final preparations for the bye-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
According to a statement by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the polls will take place in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the federation.
The elections will cover two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo states; five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states; as well as nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara states.
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR BYE-ELECTIONS, RESUMPTION OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND PUBLICATION OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF CANDIDATES FOR AREA COUNCIL ELECTION IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
The Commission held its regular… pic.twitter.com/8kc0qi32ac
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) August 14, 2025
Olumekun noted that the vacancies arose following the resignation or death of serving members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Similarly, he said, the court-ordered re-run election in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Anambra State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State will be held simultaneously with the bye-elections.
“All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the States. Election technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has been configured for the election. The recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, as well as security and logistics arrangements, have been concluded. The final consignment of sensitive materials will be delivered today as scheduled,“ he noted.
The Commission also reminded political parties and candidates that campaigns end at midnight on Thursday, 14th August 2025.
“With less than 48 hours to the opening of polls, the Commission reiterates its appeal to all those involved in the bye-elections, as political parties, candidates, voters, party agents, observers and the media, to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines. Doing so will ensure seamless processes,” he informed.
He emphasised that the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)
The CVR will resume on Monday, 18th August 2025, nationwide, with the online pre-registration of voters stating that the physical or in-person registration will follow a week later at the 811 INEC State and Local Government offices across the country on Monday, 25th August 2025.
“The list and locations of the centres, including dedicated telephone numbers for citizens in need of assistance, can be obtained from our website and other online platforms. The active CVR Locator will also go live on Sunday, 17th August 2025.
“During the CVR, citizens will also have the opportunity to transfer their registration within a state or to other states of the federation. Similarly, damaged or lost PVCs will be replaced as provided by law,“ he said.
“It needs to be re-emphasised that the CVR is only open to Nigerian citizens who are 18 years or older and who have not registered before, as double or multiple registration is a punishable offence under the law, Publication of Personal Particulars of Candidates for the FCT Area Council Election,” he remarked.
He stated that following the conclusion of party primaries for the Area Council election in the FCT, seventeen (17) political parties uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms by the deadline of 6.00 pm on Monday, 11th August 2025, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.
“In line with the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will on Monday, 18th August 2025, publish the personal particulars of candidates by displaying copies of their Form EC9 along with all the accompanying academic credentials and other documents submitted by them, in all our offices in the six Area Councils in the FCT. The 17 parties participating in the election nominated 637 candidates for the 68 seats (6 chairmen and 62 councillors) in the FCT,“ Olumekun noted.
He therefore appeals to Nigerians to scrutinise the document, saying that any aspirant who participated in his or her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The final list of candidates will be published on 22nd September 2025, which is at least 150 days before the day of the election in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and listed as item 7 on our Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election,“ he said.
Olumekun also noted that the FCT Area Council election is scheduled for Saturday, 21st February 2026, while the commission will continue to update Nigerians on all their activities.