The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set August 16, 2025, as the date for bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly across 12 states.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the announcement on Thursday during a meeting with political party leaders at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He revealed that around 3,553,659 registered voters are expected to participate in the bye-elections. However, INEC will not conduct polls in Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State due to a prevailing state of emergency, nor in Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State, which is currently under legal dispute regarding the seat’s vacancy status.
Prof. Yakubu also announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence on August 25, with online pre-registration beginning a week earlier on August 18.
Prof Yakubu said, “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.
“Also, vacancies exist in 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).
“Consequently, the 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.
“The Commission will deploy 30,451 officials. However, in spite of the declaration of vacancies, bye-elections will not be held in two State constituencies for the time being. These are Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State as a result of the current state of emergency and Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State following a legal challenge to the declaration of the seat vacant by the State Assembly.
“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 9.00 am on 22nd July and end at 6.00 pm 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. The hard copies of the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the bye-elections, including delimitation details of the 16 constituencies and their locations on the map of Nigeria, are included in your folders for this meeting.
“The same information will be uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information shortly.
“In addition to the bye-elections, the Commission will also conduct the 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.
“These elections were severely disrupted by thuggery and violence. They will now be combined with the bye-elections upon assurances from the security agencies to adequately secure the process. The two elections will be held along with the bye-elections on Saturday, 16th August 2025”.
Speaking on the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the INEC boss said, “The Commission has approved the resumption of the exercise, which will be held at two levels. In view of the forthcoming Governorship election, the CVR in Anambra State will commence in the 326 Wards across the State on 8th July 2025 and end on 17th July 2025 from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm daily, including the weekend.
“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra State from other States of the Federation or from one location to another within the State will have the opportunity to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) are lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for a replacement.
“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres. Interested, eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register.
“The online pre-registration option is not available for the time being. Voter registration and the compilation of the voters’ register must be completed no later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
“Detailed information, including the locations of the 326 registration centres in Anambra State, is included in your folders for this meeting. The same information will be uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information.
“For the nationwide CVR, the Commission has approved the resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all the States of the Federation. The online pre-registration will start on 18th August 2025, while the in-person registration will follow on 25th August 2025.
“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all our 37 State and FCT offices as well as our 774 Local Government offices nationwide. A Detailed schedule of activities will be released shortly.”
