BREAKING: INEC Announces Date for Conduct of By-Elections in 16 Constituencies
- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced date for the conduct of by-elections
- The INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the by-elections will hold on Saturday, August 16, 2025
- According to Professor Yakubu, the by-elections will hold in 16 affected constituencies across 12 states in the country
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
FCT, Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct by-elections across affected constituencies on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The by-elections are to fill vacant seats in the national and state assemblies due to resignations, deaths, or court annulments.
Source: Facebook
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the election will hold across 12 states.
As reported by The Punch, Yakubu made this known at the consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
“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, despite the declaration of vacancies, by-elections will not be held 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.”
Yakubu said the commission would deploy 30,451 officials to conduct the polls, which would cover 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.
The affected constituencies include:
Vacant senatorial districts due for by-election
- Anambra South, due to death of Senator Ifeanyi Uba
- Edo Central - Senator Monday Okpebholo resigned and won Edo gubernatorial election
House of Representatives federal constituencies
- Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo) - Dennis Idahosa is now Edo state deputy governor
- Babura/Garki (Jigawa) - Hon. Isah Dogonyaro passed on in 2024.
- Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna) - Due to death of Hon. Abubakar Adams
- Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun) - Due to the death of Adewunmi Onanuga, the deputy chief whip of the house of representatives.
- Ibadan North (Oyo)
The nine vacant State Assembly seats to be fill area:
Zaria Kewaye and Basawa in Kaduna state
Ganye in Adamawa state
Onitsha North I in Anambra state
Dekina/Okura in Kogi state
Bagwai/Shanono in Kano state
Mariga in Niger state
Karim Lamido I in Taraba state
Kauran Namoda South in Zamfara state.
Source: Twitter
Why INEC is yet to conduct by-elections
Recall that INEC explained the reason for not conducting by-elections to fill seven vacant seats.
INEC said the by-elections for the seven vacant seats at the National Assembly have been delayed due to a lack of funds.
Legit.ng reports that there are two vacant seats in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives.
Rivers assembly: INEC told to conduct by-election
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly declared 25 legislative seats vacant after members, including Martin Amaewhule, defected from the PDP to the APC in December 2023.
Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo urged INEC to conduct by-elections without further delay, citing the need to restore stability and prevent distractions caused by the vacant seats.
Oko-Jumbo rejected claims by Amaewhule and his group that they had the power to declare other Assembly members' seats vacant.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
