By JOHN ONAH, Abuja-
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties, candidates, and stakeholders involved in Saturday’s by-elections to strictly follow legal provisions, regulations, and guidelines to ensure a smooth electoral process.
In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized the importance of compliance for seamless operations.
During its weekly meeting, INEC reviewed preparations for the by-elections, the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), and the publication of candidates’ details for the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.
“We’ve finalized logistics, including the delivery of non-sensitive materials to the affected states and the configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),” Olumekun said.
He added that ad hoc staff recruitment, training, and security arrangements are complete, with sensitive materials set to be delivered on Friday.
Olumekun reminded stakeholders that campaign activities must cease by midnight on Thursday, August 14.
“With polls opening in less than 48 hours, we urge all participants—parties, candidates, voters, agents, observers, and the media—to adhere to electoral laws and guidelines,” he stated, stressing that compliance is key to a hitch-free process.
The by-elections, scheduled for Saturday, will take place in 16 constituencies across 12 states, covering two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo, five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo, and nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara. These elections were prompted by the resignation or death of sitting legislators.
On the CVR, Olumekun announced that the exercise will resume nationwide on August 18, starting with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25 at INEC’s 811 state and local government offices.
“Citizens can also transfer their voter registration or replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs),” he noted, warning that multiple registrations are illegal and punishable. Details of registration centers and helplines will be available on INEC’s website and platforms, with the CVR locator activating on August 17.
For the FCT area council elections, Olumekun disclosed that 17 political parties submitted nominations for 637 candidates for 68 seats (six chairmen and 62 councillors) by the August 11 deadline. On August 18, INEC will publish candidates’ personal particulars, including Form EC9 and supporting documents, at its offices across the FCT’s six area councils.
“We encourage the public to review these documents. Any aspirant with evidence of false information can challenge a candidate’s nomination in a Federal High Court,” Olumekun said, citing Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The final candidate list will be released on September 22, 2025, in line with the Act.
Olumekun reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to keeping the public informed on its activities, ensuring transparency throughout the electoral process.
