By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it is fully prepared to conduct bye-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 States of the Federation on Saturday, 16 August 2025, while also announcing the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
Following its weekly meeting held on Thursday, 14 August 2025, the Commission stated that all non-sensitive materials for the bye-elections have already been delivered to the respective States, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured for deployment. It further disclosed that the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff as well as arrangements for logistics and security have been concluded, and that the final consignment of sensitive materials was being delivered on schedule.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who issued an official statement after the meeting, explained that the bye-elections would take place in 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 (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara States. He recalled that the elections were necessitated by the resignation or death of former members of the National and State Houses of Assembly. A court-ordered re-run election in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State and in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State will be conducted simultaneously.
INEC reminded political parties and candidates that election campaigns end at midnight on Thursday, 14 August 2025, in accordance with the law. The Commission therefore appealed to political parties, candidates, voters, observers, party agents and the media to strictly adhere to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines to ensure smooth and credible conduct of the polls.
The Commission also announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration will resume on Monday, 18 August 2025, beginning with online pre-registration. Physical/in-person registration will commence a week later, on Monday, 25 August 2025, at the 811 INEC State and Local Government offices across the country. It added that a list of the registration centres, along with dedicated telephone numbers for assistance, will be available on the INEC website and online platforms, while the active CVR Locator will go live on Sunday, 17 August 2025.
INEC further explained that the exercise will enable citizens to register, transfer their voter registration to another State or within the same State, and replace damaged or lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). It reminded the public that the CVR is only open to Nigerian citizens who are 18 years or older and who have never been registered before.
On the upcoming Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Commission announced that the personal particulars of candidates will be published on Monday, 18 August 2025 in keeping with the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022. A total of 17 political parties submitted nomination forms for 637 candidates contesting for 68 elective positions comprising six Chairmen and 62 Councillors. The documents, including the candidates’ academic credentials and other supporting documents, will be displayed in all INEC offices across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
INEC urged members of the public to examine the documents and advised aspirants who participated in party primaries and have reasonable grounds to believe that any submitted information is false to challenge such nominations in a Federal High Court, in line with Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act.
The Commission also confirmed that the final list of candidates for the FCT Area Council election will be published on 22 September 2025, while the election itself is scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 2026.
INEC assured Nigerians that it will continue to keep the public informed on all its activities.
