The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled by-elections to take place on August 16, 2025, in 16 constituencies spread across 12 states.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced this on Thursday in Abuja during the second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties for the year 2025.
This meeting followed the first quarterly session held earlier on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Prof. Yakubu had previously assured media executives and civil society organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday that the commission would soon provide full details of the upcoming by-elections.
“At our consultative meetings with CSOs and the media yesterday, we assured Nigerians that the commission was finalising arrangements for two pending activities, the details of which will be made public within 24 hours.”
“First, the outstanding bye-elections and, secondly, the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
On the bye-elections, let me first give you a brief update. In the last two years since the inauguration of the National and State Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies requiring bye-elections have occurred nationwide.
“You may recall 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.
“Since then, more vacancies have been declared across the country. 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,” Yakubu said.
He also mentioned that there are nine State constituencies involved, including 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.
“Consequently, commission has fixed Saturday 16th August 2025 for bye-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the country involving a total of 3,553,659 registered voters spread across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards and 6,987 Polling Units (PUs),” Yakubu said.
The INEC Chairman also stated that the commission plans to deploy 30,451 officials for the elections.
However, Prof. Yakubu noted that despite the declaration of vacancies, by-elections will not be conducted for now in two state constituencies.
He identified the affected areas as Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State, due to the ongoing state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State, owing to a legal dispute challenging the State Assembly’s decision to declare the seat vacant.
He said, “Unlike the General Election or off-cycle governorship elections, there is a tight timeframe for the conduct of bye-elections.
“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.
“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 stated that, alongside the by-elections, INEC will also hold two pending court-ordered re-run elections — one in Enugu South I State Constituency in Enugu State and the other in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State.
He explained that these elections were previously disrupted multiple times due to violence and thuggery.
However, following assurances from security agencies about adequate protection, the re-run polls will now be conducted together with the by-elections on Saturday, 16th August 2025.
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