INEC Announces Bye-Elections For 16 Constituencies Across 12 States On 16 August 2025.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Saturday, 16 August 2025, as the date for bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies across 16 constituencies in 12 states. The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
The bye-elections aim to address vacancies resulting from resignations, deaths, or court-ordered annulments, involving approximately 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units. INEC plans to deploy 30,451 officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. The constituencies include two Senatorial Districts—Anambra South and Edo Central—five Federal Constituencies, namely Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo), and nine State Constituencies across Adamawa, Anambra, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara.
However, bye-elections will not proceed in two state constituencies—Khana II in Rivers State, due to an ongoing state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State, following a legal challenge to the vacancy declaration. Additionally, INEC will conduct two court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano State), previously disrupted by violence, alongside the bye-elections, with assurances from security agencies for adequate protection.
Professor Yakubu outlined a tight timeframe for the electoral process, with party primaries scheduled between 17 and 21 July 2025, and the online portal for nomination forms open from 9:00 AM on 22 July to 6:00 PM on 26 July 2025. Public campaigning will commence on 2 August and conclude at midnight on 14 August 2025. Detailed timetables and delimitation data have been uploaded to INEC’s website and social media platforms for public access.
The INEC Chairman also announced the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on 18 August 2025 nationwide, with a specific exercise in Anambra State from 8 to 17 July 2025 to prepare for its upcoming governorship election. The CVR will allow new voters, transfers, and replacements of lost or damaged Permanent Voters’ Cards.
The announcement has been widely reported, with stakeholders urging INEC to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) called for political parties to conduct transparent primaries and focus on issue-based campaigns, particularly for the Anambra governorship election on 8 November 2025. This development underscores INEC’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process by promptly addressing legislative vacancies.