The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Saturday, August 16, 2025, for by-elections. Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking with the press in Abuja.
According to his revelation, the elections will be conducted in affected constituencies, with the chairman assuring that the electoral body is well prepared. Meanwhile, the by-elections are meant to fill empty seats in the Senate and National Assembly.
More so, some of the positions became vacant as a result of resignation, death, or court annulment. In the Nigerian Senate, two seats; Edo Central and Anambra South are currently vacant.
For Edo Central, the seat became vacant after Senator Monday Okpehbolo resigned to contest the Edo State governorship election which he later won. However, the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah on July 27, 2024, made the Anambra South seat vacant.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah before his death served as the Senator representing Anambra South from 2019 till 2024. Additionally, the House of Representatives currently has four vacant seats.
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The emergence of Hon. Denis Idahosa as the deputy governor of Edo State left the Ovia North East/Ovia North West federal constituency of Edo State vacant. Similarly, the other seats are vacant due to the death of Hon Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi (Oyo), Ekene Adams (Kaduna), and Isah Dongoyaro (Jigawa).
110 associations submit political party registration – INEC
It is worth mentioning that on Wednesday, the INEC Chairman revealed that about 110 associations have submitted application requests for registration as a political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC boss said that as of June 2023, the commission received proposals for registration and is currently processing them in line with electoral regulations. Yakubu stated that INEC has acknowledged all the requests with just six left.
He assured that the commission will work on the remaining application before the end of the week. Yakubu went on to address concerns about impartiality, as he emphasized that the commission will continue to remain fair in registering political parties.
Lastly, Yakubu said the electoral body will treat all requests equally irrespective of the status of their promoters. He debunked growing rumors that the commission has compromised its independence.
