The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that all preparations are complete for this Saturday’s bye-elections, with voting technology configured and election materials delivered across the affected states.
“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured for the election,” INEC stated in a press release issued after its weekly meeting on Thursday. The commission confirmed that “all non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the States,” adding that “the final consignment of sensitive materials will be delivered today as scheduled.”
The bye-elections, scheduled for Saturday 16th August 2025, will take place across 16 constituencies in 12 states. These include two Senatorial Districts in Anambra and Edo States, five Federal Constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun and Oyo States, and nine State Constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara States.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, explained that the vacancies being filled were caused by “the resignation or death of serving members of national and State Houses of Assembly.
The commission will also conduct court-ordered re-run elections simultaneously in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Anambra State and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.
With campaigning ending at midnight on Thursday, INEC reminded “political parties and candidates that campaigns end at midnight today, Thursday 14th August 2025.” The commission reported that “the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff as well as security and logistics arrangements have been concluded.”
In its appeal for peaceful elections, INEC urged “all those involved in the bye-elections as political parties, candidates, voters, party agents, observers and the media to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines.” The commission emphasized that compliance would ensure “seamless processes.”
Looking beyond the bye-elections, INEC announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which will begin with online pre-registration on Monday 18th August 2025.
“The physical or in-person registration will follow a week later at the 811 INEC State and Local Government offices across the country on Monday 25th August 2025,” the commission stated.
INEC warned that “the CVR is only open to Nigerian citizens who are 18 years or older and who have not registered before,” stressing that “double or multiple registration is a punishable offence under the law.” The commission noted that during the exercise, “citizens will also have the opportunity to transfer their registration within a State or to other States of the Federation,” while damaged or lost PVCs can be replaced.
Regarding the upcoming Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), INEC confirmed that “seventeen (17) Political Parties uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms by the deadline of 6.00pm on Monday 11th August 2025.”
The commission will publish the personal particulars of the 637 candidates nominated for 68 seats on Monday 18th August in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents,” INEC stated, noting that any aspirant with reasonable grounds to challenge a candidate’s nomination may do so in court as provided by law. The final list of candidates will be published on 22nd September 2025, in line with electoral requirements.
The FCT Area Council election is scheduled for Saturday 21st February 2026. INEC concluded by assuring that it would “continue to update Nigerians on all our activities” regarding both the upcoming bye-elections and future electoral processes.
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