The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 16th August 2025 for the conduct of by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja at the 2025 second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.
Yakubu had on Wednesday, during similar meetings with media executives and civil society organisations (CSOs), promised to released the details of the by-elections.
The INEC boss who revealed plans for the outstanding bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), said since the inauguration of the National and State Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies requiring bye-elections have occurred nationwide.
He recalled that in February last year, the commission conducted nine bye-elections to fill vacancies resulting from the death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Yakubu explained that the outstanding bye-elections involve two Senatorial Districts ̶ Anambra South and Edo Central; five Federal Constituencies ̶ Ovia South West/Ovia South East in Edo State, Babura/Garki in Jigawa State, Chikun/Kajuru in Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North in Ogun State and Ibadan North in Oyo State.
He also said that there were as well as nine State constituencies -Ganye in Adamawa State, Onitsha North I in Anambra State, Dekina/Okura in Kogi State, Zaria Kewaye and Basawa in Kaduna State, Bagwai/Shanono in Kano State, Mariga in Niger State, Karim Lamido I in Taraba State and Kauran Namoda South in Zamfara State.
The INEC helmsman also said that the commission would deploy 30,451 officials for the elections, noting that in spite of the declaration of vacancies, by-elections will not hold in two state constituencies for the time being.
He listed the affected constituencies as Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State as a result of the current state of emergency; and Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State following a legal challenge to the declaration of the seat vacant by the State Assembly.
According to Yakubu, Party primaries will be held between 17th and 21st July 2025 while the online portal for submission of nomination forms will open at 9.00am on 22nd July and end at 6.00pm on 26th July 2025, adding that campaign in public will commence on 2nd August 2025 and end at midnight on 14th August 2025 i.e. 24 hours before Election Day.
Prof. Yakubu said that in addition to the by-elections, the commission will also conduct the two outstanding Court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I State Constituency of Enugu State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State, which were disrupted by thuggery and violence.
He said that they will now be combined with the bye-elections and will be held along with the bye-elections on Saturday 16th August 2025, upon assurances from the security agencies to adequately secure the process.