The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced August 16, 2025, as the date for bye-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the federation. The commission also revealed plans to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide, starting August 18.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Thursday during the second regular consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja. He noted that 30,451 officials will be deployed for the bye-elections, which will involve 3.55 million registered voters across 32 local governments, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.
Constituencies and Election Timelines
The bye-elections will fill vacancies in:
- 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), 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), Kauran Namoda South (Zamfara)
Yakubu clarified that no bye-elections will hold in Khana II (Rivers) due to the state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South (Zamfara) owing to a pending legal case.
Party primaries will take place July 17–21, with nomination submissions open from July 22 to July 26. Campaigns will run August 2–14, ending 24 hours before election day.
CVR and Re-run Elections
Yakubu confirmed that CVR will resume in Anambra State from July 8–17 to support preparations for the upcoming governorship election. Nationwide, online pre-registration resumes on August 18, followed by in-person registration from August 25 at all INEC state, FCT, and local government offices.
The CVR will accommodate new registrants, transfer requests, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and collection of unclaimed PVCs.
Campaign Access and Enforcement
Addressing concerns about incumbents denying opposition access to public facilities, Yakubu warned that INEC will partner with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to pursue legal action against violators. He emphasized that such practices breach the Electoral Act 2022.
Additionally, two court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano), previously disrupted by violence, will hold alongside the bye-elections.
Final Word
Yakubu urged political parties to respect timelines, especially for the FCT Area Council elections, where candidate submissions close August 11, 2025. He reminded parties of the legal obligation to publish candidate details for public scrutiny and objections within the stipulated period.
