ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that bye-elections to fill 16 vacant legislative seats in 12 states will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Wednesday during the second regular consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja. He added that the Commission will deploy 30,451 officials to facilitate the exercise.

The elections will involve two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies, with a total of 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.

However, bye-elections will not hold in two state constituencies—Khana II in Rivers State, due to a state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State, which is currently under legal dispute.

Prof. Yakubu also revealed that INEC would simultaneously conduct two pending court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano State), previously disrupted by violence. These will now take place alongside the August 16 bye-elections, with assurances of improved security.

Timetable for Bye-Elections and Candidate Nomination

Party Primaries: July 17–21, 2025

Online Nomination Submission: July 22–26, 2025 (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily)

Campaign Period: August 2–14, 2025

Election Day: August 16, 2025

Continuous Voter Registration Resumes

The INEC Chairman also announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide.

In Anambra State, where a governorship election is forthcoming, CVR will run from July 8 to 17, 2025, daily (including weekends), from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Nationwide CVR resumes with:

Online pre-registration starting August 18, 2025

In-person registration beginning August 25, 2025

The exercise will hold at INEC offices in all 774 local government areas, 37 state offices, and the FCT.

Eligible Nigerians are encouraged to register in person. The online pre-registration platform is currently not available for Anambra’s CVR. Voters can also transfer their registration, request replacement for lost/damaged PVCs, or collect unclaimed PVCs at the registration centers.

Warning Against Abuse of Incumbency

Prof. Yakubu raised concerns about the persistent denial of access to public facilities by incumbents, especially during campaigns. These include restrictions on the use of state-owned media, public spaces for rallies, and excessive fees for advertisements.

He cautioned that such actions violate the Electoral Act 2022, which forbids incumbents from using their position to favor or hinder any party or candidate.

Going forward, INEC will collaborate with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to initiate legal action against offenders when clear evidence of violations exists.

FCT Area Council Elections

On the upcoming FCT Area Council elections, Yakubu reminded political parties that primaries must end by June 30, 2025. Candidate nominations must be uploaded between July 21 and August 11, 2025, with the portal automatically closing at 6:00 p.m. on August 11.

He emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to all timelines and procedures, particularly the legal requirement to publish candidate details for public scrutiny.