INEC conducts by-elections into vacant seats in 16 constituencies across Nigeria on August 16
Vacant seats in 16 constituencies across 12 state of the country are to be filled in elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the commission, made the announcement during a meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Thursday.
He explained that the vacancies arose from resignations, deaths, and court-ordered annulments.
“These elections will take place in 16 constituencies involving two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies, and nine State Assembly seats,” Yakubu said.
The affected constituencies include Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts; Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo) Federal Constituencies. The nine State Assembly seats are Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North I (Anambra), Dekina/Okura (Kogi), Zaria Kewaye and Basawa (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono (Kano), Mariga (Niger), Karim Lamido I (Taraba), and Kauran Namoda South (Zamfara).
Yakubu said the Commission would deploy 30,451 officials to conduct the polls, which will cover 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards, and 6,987 Polling Units.
However, INEC confirmed that by-elections will not be conducted in two State Constituencies: Khana II in Rivers State, due to a state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State, which is subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
“The commission has fixed Saturday 16th August 2025 for by-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, by-elections will not hold 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,” he added.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between July 17 and 21. Submission of nomination forms will be done online from July 22 to 26, while campaign activities will begin on August 2 and end on August 14.
In addition to the by-elections, Yakubu announced that two court-ordered re-run elections—Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano)—will also be held on August 16. The re-runs were previously disrupted by violence.
Yakubu also disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise would resume nationwide. Online pre-registration will commence on August 18, followed by physical registration on August 25.
“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. Detailed schedule of activities will be released shortly,” he added.
Ahead of the Anambra State governorship election, a separate voter registration exercise will be held in all 326 wards of the state from July 8 to 17.
Yakubu encouraged eligible voters, including those seeking transfers or replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, to participate.
