The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the completion of all preparations for by-elections set to take place across 16 constituencies in 12 states this Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The announcement was made in a press statement issued on Thursday by National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, following the commission’s regular weekly meeting in Abuja.
The by-elections will cover two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo States, five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, and nine state constituencies across Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (two constituencies), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
Additionally, INEC confirmed that court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I State Constituency (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency (Kano State) will be conducted simultaneously.
“All non-sensitive election materials have been delivered to the respective states. Election technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has been configured and tested for the polls. Recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, along with security and logistics arrangements, have been finalized. The final consignment of sensitive materials is scheduled for delivery today,” Olumekun stated.
INEC also reminded political parties and candidates that the campaign period ends at midnight on Thursday.
“With less than 48 hours to the opening of polls, the commission urges all stakeholders—including political parties, candidates, voters, party agents, observers, and the media—to strictly adhere to legal provisions, regulations, and guidelines to ensure a smooth electoral process,” Olumekun emphasized.
In a related development, INEC announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The commission noted that the online pre-registration portal will open on August 18, 2025, while physical registration will begin on August 25, 2025, at INEC’s 811 state and local government offices nationwide.
Olumekun added, “The list and locations of the registration centres, along with dedicated telephone numbers for citizens seeking assistance, are available on our website and other online platforms. The active CVR Locator tool will also be launched on Sunday, August 17, 2025.”
The CVR exercise will enable eligible citizens to register to vote for the first time, transfer their registration within or across states, or replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
However, Olumekun cautioned that multiple registrations are illegal and punishable by law.
“During the CVR, citizens can transfer their registration either within their state or to other states in the Federation. Similarly, applications for replacement of damaged or lost PVCs will be processed as prescribed by law. It is important to reiterate that the CVR is open only to Nigerian citizens aged 18 years or older who have not registered before. Double or multiple registrations constitute a punishable offence under the law,” he concluded.
