The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting by-elections and re-run polls tomorrow to fill some vacant national and state legislative seats across 14 states of the federation, comprising a total of 7324 Polling Units.
While the by-elections are holding in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the country, 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 are to be conducted.
For the by-elections, 3,553,659 registered voters spread across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units are participating in the 16 by-elections for the 12 states.
INEC is deploying 30,451 poll officials for the exercise.
The election will be held in eight polling units in Enugu South I, while it will take place in 10 polling units in the Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituencies of Enugu and Kano states.
These elections were severely disrupted by thuggery and violence.
The outstanding by-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.
Others include 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 Anambra South senatorial seat became vacant due to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s death in July 2024, while that of Edo Central resulted from Senator Monday Okpebholo’s resignation after he won the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election.
Also, a vacancy occurred in the Ovia South est/Ovia South East federal constituency of Edo state when the former occupant, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, was elected the state’s deputy governor in September 2024.
The other seats in the House of Representatives became vacant due to members who died.
These include: Hon. Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga (Isa/Sabon Birni, Sokoto), who passed on in October 2023; Hon. Isa Dogonyaro (Garki/Babura, Jigawa) who died in May 2024; Hon. Ekene Adams (Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna) and Olaide Akinremi (Ibadan North, Oyo), both of whom died in July 2024 and Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun), who died in January 2025.
INEC said all non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the states, while the final consignment of sensitive materials was delivered yesterday as scheduled.
INEC national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this at the end of the commission’s regular weekly meeting in Abuja yesterday.
Olumekun said election technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has been configured for the election, while recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, as well as security and logistics arrangements, had been concluded.
“The recruitment and training of ad hoc staff and security and logistics arrangements, have been concluded. The final consignment of sensitive materials will be delivered today as scheduled.
The Commission reminded political parties and candidates that campaigns ended at midnight today, Thursday, 14th August 2025.
“With less than 48 hours to the opening of polls, the Commission reiterates its appeal to all those involved in the by-elections, as political parties, candidates, voters, party agents, observers and the media to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines. Doing so will ensure seamless processes,” he added.
Meanwhile, INEC has distributed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the conduct of by-elections in Anambra South Senatorial zone and Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Queen Elizabeth Agwu told newsmen that the election would be held in 210 wards in the Anambra South Senatorial zone and 118 wards in the Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
She also said that while 817,521 registered voters were expected to determine a winner for the Anambra South Senatorial zone seat, 92,223 voters were eligible to participate in the election in the Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
The resident electoral commissioner gave the assurance that the commission had made adequate arrangements to ensure that the elections conducted free, fair and credible.
REC Agwu urged the electorate to come out en masse to vote and advised those who might not have any business going to the polls to stay away from the constituencies during the election.
“I want to advise the people of the state to shun rumours. They said that I had perfected plans to rig the election. Still, you can see that all of us are now here in the Central Bank of Nigeria, and we have taken delivery of both the sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the election, and are distributing them to the various constituencies where the election will hold,” she added.
Also, INEC in Kano State has restated its readiness to conduct the by-elections across affected constituencies, saying 1,400 trained ad-hoc staff and an additional 300 on standby would be deployed for the exercise.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abdu Zango, disclosed this while responding to questions from a team of journalists.
Zango noted that all arrangements have been concluded, including delivering sensitive and non-sensitive materials, configuring the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), signing of peace accord, inter-agency meeting, massive deployment of security personnel, among others, to designated and strategic locations.
He said the elections would be held for the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency in 10 polling units with about 5200 voters between the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, as well as Bagwai/Shanono, comprising 337 polling units with about 75,000 voters, to replace a deceased State House of Assembly member, Halilu Kundila.
However, he noted that while Bagwai/Shanono’s election results would be announced at the Registration Area Centre (RAC), the final result for Ghari would be declared at the INEC headquarters due to past challenges.
While highlighting the importance of the political class conducting themselves responsibly and peacefully, Amb. Zango further emphasised INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.
Candidates sign peace accord in Ibadan
Five candidates in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election in Oyo State have signed a peace accord at the state’s INEC headquarters in Ibadan, expressing their commitment to non-violent elections.
They include: Femi Akin-Alamu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Adewale Olatunji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olabisi Odususi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Fola Oyekunle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hammed Badmus of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP).
Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner Tella Adeniran told stakeholders at the event that the peace accord was necessary to ensure a free and fair election.
Adeniran urged candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves with decorum and sportsmanship throughout the process, assuring them of INEC’s commitment to a credible poll.
“This gathering demonstrates your commitment to promoting peace, stability and credibility in the electoral process. The signing of this peace accord is a crucial step towards ensuring a free, fair and transparent election. I urge all stakeholders to adhere to its principles and create an environment where voters can exercise their rights without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Ensure Free And Fair Polls, CSO Tells INEC
Ahead of the August 16 by-election, the coalition of observer groups in Nigeria has urged INEC to ensure a free, fair, and credible exercise, even as they alleged that the ruling party in the state is plotting to undermine the outcome of the election.
The Civil Society Coalition also condemned attempts to militarise the process and urged the Nigerian Police to be professional in the discharge of their duties before, during, and after the elections.
In a statement in Abuja on Thursday by its national coordinator, Comrade Simon Diogu, and national secretary, Blessing Solomon, the group alleged that there are reports that the security agencies, military and police will be deployed to undermine the exercise, similar to the September 20th governorship election.
The statement reads, “As Edo State heads to the polls on August 16, 2025, for the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency by-elections, the Coalition of Observer Groups in Nigeria expresses deep concern over credible reports that threaten the credibility of the process.
“The September 2024 governorship election in Edo State left a lingering crisis of confidence in the electoral system, following allegations of irregularities, including duplicate result sheets and questionable collation practices. Those allegations were never conclusively addressed by INEC, leaving citizens doubtful about the neutrality of the electoral umpire.”
David Mark Urges INEC To Conduct Credible Polls
Also, the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has called on INEC to uphold the principles of impartiality and transparency in the by-election.
In a goodwill message to ADC Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly candidates, Senator Mark urged INEC to conduct a process to restore public trust in the electoral system.
Describing the ADC as a “child of necessity” borne out of the genuine desire to offer Nigerians an alternative and better governance, Senator Mark appealed to the electorate to give the party an opportunity to prove its worth.
He reminded INEC that “all eyes are on the Commission” to correct past errors that had tarnished its public image, stressing that a truly free, fair, and credible election on Saturday could help redeem its reputation.
The former Senate President commended ADC candidates for their courage and dedication, urging them and their supporters to comply with electoral laws while remaining vigilant against manipulation or intimidation.
Senator Mark also called on security agencies to guarantee a level playing field for all participants, ensuring that the people’s will prevails without interference.
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