INEC Sets August 16 For Bye-Elections Across 12 States

INEC Sets August 16 For Bye-Elections Across 12 States.
Voter registration resumes in Anambra, nationwide from July and August 2025.
IPAC urges electoral transparency, praises INEC’s technological improvements.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled detailed plans for upcoming electoral activities, including the conduct of bye-elections, the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), and preparations for the Anambra State Governorship election.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that this announcement was made on Thursday during the commission’s ongoing consultative meetings with key stakeholders, including leaders of registered political parties across the country.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that the commission has fixed Saturday, August 16, 2025, for bye-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states. He said the elections will involve 3,553,659 registered voters spread across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards, and 6,987 Polling Units.

Yakubu added that about 30,451 election officials will be deployed to conduct the exercise. However, he confirmed that bye-elections will not hold in Khana II State Constituency in Rivers State due to a security emergency, and in Talata Mafara South State Constituency in Zamfara State because of a pending legal dispute over the vacancy.

The INEC Chairman also outlined the timetable for the elections, stating that party primaries will be held from July 17 to 21, 2025. Political parties are expected to submit their nomination forms via the INEC portal from 9:00 a.m. on July 22 until 6:00 p.m. on July 26. Public campaigns will run from August 2 to August 14, 2025.

On voter registration, Yakubu announced the resumption of CVR at both state and national levels. He said registration will take place in all 326 Wards in Anambra State from July 8 to 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends. The exercise will enable new registrants, voters seeking transfers, and those needing replacements for lost or damaged PVCs to update their records. PVCs from previous exercises will also be available for collection.

Nationwide, INEC will reopen its online pre-registration portal on August 18, 2025, while physical registration will commence at all INEC state offices, FCT office, and 774 Local Government Area offices starting August 25, 2025.

The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, expressed the council’s support for INEC’s efforts. He reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to promoting electoral integrity, democratic stability, and public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Dantalle urged stakeholders to protect the sanctity of the ballot and hold elected leaders accountable. He also described the upcoming Anambra Governorship election as a platform for INEC to showcase its technological improvements, particularly the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance election transparency and increase voter participation.

He commended the ongoing construction of INEC’s new headquarters annexe, describing it as a significant step towards improving the commission’s operational capacity.