The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is gearing up for a busy electoral period, scheduling a series of by-elections and re-run elections, alongside resuming the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. On August 16, 2025, by-elections will be conducted in 16 constituencies across 12 states to fill vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies. These vacancies arose due to resignations, deaths, and court-ordered annulments. Simultaneously, two previously disrupted re-run elections will also take place on the same date. Furthermore, INEC will recommence the CVR process nationwide, facilitating voter registration, transfers, and replacements of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). A separate voter registration exercise will also be held in Anambra State in preparation for the upcoming governorship election.
The by-elections scheduled for August 16th will involve two Senatorial Districts, Anambra South and Edo Central; five Federal Constituencies, namely Ovia South West/Ovia South East (Edo), Babura/Garki (Jigawa), Chikun/Kajuru (Kaduna), Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North (Ogun), and Ibadan North (Oyo); and nine State Assembly seats spread across Adamawa, Anambra, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States. INEC has confirmed that 3,553,659 registered voters across 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards, and 6,987 Polling Units will be involved in the exercise. To manage this process, INEC will deploy 30,451 officials. However, by-elections will not be held in two State Constituencies: Khana II in Rivers State due to a declared state of emergency, and Talata Mafara South in Zamfara State due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The pre-election activities for the by-elections include party primaries scheduled between July 17 and 21, followed by online submission of nomination forms from July 22 to 26. Campaigns will officially commence on August 2 and conclude on August 14. In addition to the by-elections, two court-ordered re-run elections will also be held on August 16 in Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano) constituencies. These re-runs were previously halted due to disruptions caused by violence and are now being rescheduled to ensure representation for these constituencies.
The nationwide CVR exercise will resume with online pre-registration starting on August 18, followed by in-person registration at all INEC state and local government offices from August 25. This continuous registration process allows eligible citizens to register as new voters, transfer their registration to different locations, or apply for replacement PVCs. Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection during this period. This nationwide effort is crucial for ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote.
In Anambra State, a dedicated voter registration exercise will take place from July 8 to 17 in all 326 wards across the state. This exercise is in preparation for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025. This dedicated period allows for new voter registrations, transfer of registrations from other states or within the state, and the replacement of lost or damaged PVCs, specifically for the Anambra election. This focused approach ensures that the voter register for Anambra State is updated and accurate ahead of the governorship poll. The final list of 16 candidates and their running mates for the Anambra gubernatorial election has been published, and the campaign period is already underway, having commenced on June 11 and continuing until midnight on November 6, 2025, a day before the election.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), represented by its National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust in the electoral system. Dr. Dantalle urged political stakeholders and INEC to prioritize efforts to address public mistrust, citing concerns over consistently low voter turnout attributed to this mistrust, fear of violence, and disillusionment with politicians. IPAC specifically urged political parties to ensure transparency and adherence to constitutional provisions during primaries, warning against the imposition of candidates. For the upcoming Anambra governorship election, IPAC called for issue-based campaigns, urging politicians to avoid divisive rhetoric. IPAC also encouraged INEC to leverage technology, including centralized Artificial Intelligence governance, to enhance the credibility of elections. These measures, according to IPAC, could improve decision-making, risk management, and voter engagement, ultimately contributing to a more robust and trustworthy electoral process.
