Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections for June 20 and August 8, 2026 respectively.
INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced this during the swearing-in of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Yakubu said party primaries for Ekiti would start on October 20 and end on November 10, 2025 while that of Osun hold between November 24 and December 15 this year.
The last governorship elections in the two states were held in June and July 2022. The four-year tenure of the governors will end next year.
For Ekiti State, the election will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026. However, party primaries will start on October 20 and end on November 10, 2025 to enable political parties upload their nomination forms to the dedicated portal which automatically shuts down by 6.00pm on December 22, 2025 i.e. not later than 180 days before the election.
The final list of candidates will be published on 18th January 2026 while campaign in public by political parties will commence on 21st January 2026 and end 24 hours before election day.
In the case of Osun State, the election will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Party primaries will start on November 24, 2025 and end on December 15, 2025. The portal for the upload of nomination forms by political parties closes at 6.00pm on February 9, 2026 i.e. not later than 180 days before the election. The final list of candidates will be published on March 9, 2026 while campaign in public by political parties will commence on March 11, 2026 and end 24 hours before election day.
“The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections have been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for the guidance of political parties and public information.
“The commission is aware of the concern expressed by many Nigerians about the pending bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. The number of bye-elections has now risen to 17.
“We are aware of the urgency to commence the CVR, particularly in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State. We want to assure Nigerians that we are finalising our preparations for both activities, the details of which will soon be made public,” he added.
Meanwhile the INEC chairman has sworn-in six newly appointed RECs, namely; Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, deployed to Gombe; Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, assigned to Cross River; Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, sent to Ogun; Mukhtar Umar Gajiram, deployed to Taraba; Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, deployed Abia and Umar Yusuf Garba, assigned to Sokoto.
Yakubu charged the new RECs to focus on their responsibilities, saying, “You must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs as well as the regulations and guidelines governing the commission’s operations.
“Above all, you must always act in good conscience. Do not betray your oath of office. In the best tradition of the commission, you must engage with stakeholders through regular consultative meetings and must not be impervious to genuine criticisms.”
