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Over 30,000 officials to be deployed as Nigeria prepares for critical legislative polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, August 16, 2025, for by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states to fill vacant seats in both the National and State Houses of Assembly.
TJ News Nigeria gathered that the vacancies arose from a combination of resignations, deaths, and court-ordered annulments of previous election results.
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INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced the development during a meeting with political party leaders held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Constituencies Affected by the By-Elections
The Commission confirmed that the by-elections will cover:
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- 2 Senatorial Districts
- 5 Federal Constituencies
- 9 State Assembly seats
Affected areas include:
Senatorial Districts:
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- Anambra South (Anambra State)
- Edo Central (Edo State)
Federal Constituencies:
- Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo)
- Babura/Garki (Jigawa)
- Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna)
- Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun)
- Ibadan North (Oyo)
State Assembly Seats:
- Ganye (Adamawa)
- Onitsha North I (Anambra)
- Dekina/Okura (Kogi)
- Zaria Kewaye and Basawa (Kaduna)
- Bagwai/Shanono (Kano)
- Mariga (Niger)
- Karim Lamido I (Taraba)
- Kauran Namoda South (Zamfara)
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Over 30,000 Officials to Oversee Elections
Professor Yakubu disclosed that the Commission will deploy 30,451 electoral officials to conduct the by-elections. The exercise will cover a total of:
- 3,553,659 registered voters
- 32 Local Government Areas
- 356 Wards
- 6,987 Polling Units
TJ News Nigeria learnt that this deployment underscores INEC’s commitment to logistical readiness and electoral integrity.
Two Constituencies Excluded
Despite the declaration of vacancies, INEC confirmed that by-elections will not hold in two State Constituencies:
- Khana II (Rivers State) – due to an ongoing state of emergency.
- Talata Mafara South (Zamfara State) – pending legal action over the declaration of vacancy.
Political Party Timetable and Campaign Schedule
INEC outlined the following schedule for political parties:
- Primaries: July 17 to 21, 2025
- Submission of nomination forms: July 22 to 26, 2025 (online portal)
- Campaign period: August 2 to August 14, 2025
Parties were reminded to ensure internal democracy, avoid imposition of candidates, and adhere strictly to timelines to avoid disqualification.
Court-Ordered Re-Run Elections Also Scheduled
In addition to the by-elections, Professor Yakubu announced that two re-run elections disrupted by previous violence will also be held on August 16:
- Enugu South I (Enugu State)
- Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano State)
Continuous Voter Registration to Resume Nationwide
Yakubu also revealed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will resume in all states:
- Online pre-registration: Begins August 18, 2025
- In-person registration: Begins August 25, 2025
- CVR will take place in all 774 Local Government offices, 37 state/FCT offices
A separate CVR for Anambra State will hold from July 8 to 17 across its 326 wards, ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
IPAC Calls for Trust and Transparency
Speaking at the event, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), called on INEC and political stakeholders to rebuild public trust in the electoral process.
Dantalle expressed concern over persistent low voter turnout, attributing it to fear of violence, disillusionment, and lack of faith in elected officials.
“This is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately,” he stated, urging parties to run issue-based campaigns and shun divisive rhetoric.
He also advocated for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral management to improve voter engagement, decision-making, and risk mitigation.
Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections
INEC reminded political parties that:
- Primaries end: June 30, 2025
- Candidate nomination uploads: July 21 to August 11, 2025
- The portal will automatically shut down at 6:00 p.m. on August 11.
Professor Yakubu warned parties to comply with legal deadlines, noting that INEC is bound by law to publish candidates’ details for public scrutiny within one week of submission.
TJ News Nigeria reports that with 16 by-elections, two re-runs, and voter registration exercises lined up, August 2025 will be a decisive month in Nigeria’s democratic calendar.
The electoral body has reiterated its commitment to transparency, operational efficiency, and inclusive participation in the forthcoming polls.
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