The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, August 16, 2025, for the conduct of by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the federation, including Edo State.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced the date on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of political parties at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said the vacancies were declared following the resignation, death, or nullification of elections of previous occupants of the affected seats.
Edo Central Senatorial District and the Ovia South West/Ovia South East Federal Constituency are the two constituencies listed for the by-elections in Edo State.
These elections are expected to restore full legislative representation in those areas.
Yakubu said the elections would cover two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies and nine state assembly seats across the country. Although two additional constituencies have been declared vacant, INEC said elections would not hold there for now.
These are Khana II in Rivers State, where a state of emergency is in place, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State, which is currently the subject of legal proceedings.
He disclosed that the by-elections will involve 3,553,659 registered voters, spread across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Registration Areas or Wards, and 6,987 Polling Units nationwide.
A total of 30,451 officials will be deployed by the Commission to conduct the elections, with adequate preparations for logistics and security to ensure credible polls.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between Wednesday, July 17 and Sunday, July 21, 2025. Submission of nomination forms by candidates will be done electronically via the INEC portal between July 22 and 26. Campaigns are expected to begin on August 2 and will end at midnight on August 14, two days before the election.
Yakubu also confirmed that two re-run elections—Enugu South I in Enugu State and Ghari/Tsanyawa in Kano State, will be conducted on the same date.
These polls were previously disrupted by violence and are being rescheduled in compliance with court orders.
The INEC Chairman further announced the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Online pre-registration will begin on Monday, August 18, while in-person physical registration at INEC state offices and all 774 local government offices will commence on Monday, August 25.
He explained that the voter registration exercise would allow new voters, as well as those seeking transfers, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and collection of unclaimed cards, to participate.
Ahead of the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, INEC will conduct a special voter registration exercise in all 326 Wards of the state from July 8 to 17. Registration will take place daily from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, including weekends.
The Commission urged eligible voters in Anambra to take advantage of the window.
Yakubu reminded stakeholders that voter registration and the compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the election, in accordance with the Electoral Act.
He noted that the final list of 16 governorship candidates and their running mates for the Anambra election had already been published.
Political campaigns commenced on June 11 and will continue until midnight on November 6, 2025.
On the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, the INEC Chairman said political parties must conclude their primaries by June 30, while political parties are expected to upload the names and details of their candidates between July 21 and August 11.
He warned that the nomination portal will automatically shut down at 6:00 pm on the final day.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, urged political parties to ensure internal democracy during their primaries and to avoid imposition of candidates.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of low voter turnout across the country, attributing it to public mistrust in the electoral system, fear of violence, and voter disappointment with politicians who fail to deliver on campaign promises.
Dantalle called on INEC to continue leveraging technology, including Artificial Intelligence tools, to enhance transparency, planning, risk management and voter engagement.
He noted that robust digital systems would strengthen election credibility and prevent glitches that undermine public confidence.
He also appealed to political actors to run issue-based campaigns, especially in the build-up to the Anambra election, and to avoid inflammatory rhetoric that could jeopardise peace and national unity.
