The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, 16th August 2025, as the date for by‑elections across 16 constituencies in 12 states, affecting over 3.5 million registered voters.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of political parties at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He explained that the by‑elections were necessary to fill vacancies in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and various State Assemblies.
“In the last two years, since the inauguration of the National and State Assemblies in June 2023, several vacancies have emerged across the country,” Prof. Yakubu said. “In February last year, the Commission conducted nine by‑elections to fill seats that became vacant due to death or resignation. Since then, further vacancies have been announced nationwide.”
According to the INEC boss, the upcoming by‑elections will cover two Senatorial Districts — Anambra South and Edo Central — as well as five Federal Constituencies, including Ovia South‑West/Ovia South‑East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo).
Additionally, nine State Constituencies will be contested: Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North I (Anambra), Dekina/Okura (Kogi), Zaria Kewaye and Basawa (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono (Kano), Mariga (Niger), Karim Lamido I (Taraba), and Kaura Namoda South (Zamfara).
The by‑elections will involve approximately 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards, and 6,987 polling units. Prof. Yakubu added that the Commission will deploy some 30,451 personnel for the exercise.
He clarified, however, that by‑elections will not be conducted for the Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State due to an ongoing state of emergency, nor for the Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State, which is the subject of a court challenge.
According to the timetable announced by the INEC Chairman, party primaries will be held from 17th to 21st July 2025, while the online portal for submitting nomination forms will open at 9.00am on 22nd July and close at 6.00pm on 26th July. Public campaigns will commence on 2nd August and end at midnight on 14th August, 24 hours before polling day.
In addition, INEC announced that it will also conduct two long‑awaited court‑ordered re‑run polls for the Enugu South I State Constituency (Enugu State) and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency (Kano State). These contests had been suspended due to incidents of violence and disruption, but will now be held alongside the by‑elections after security assurances from relevant authorities.
Detailed timetables and schedules for all the by‑election constituencies have been distributed to party representatives and will also be uploaded to INEC’s website and other platforms for the public to review.
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