INEC Finalises Logistics as Parties, Security Agencies Brace for By-Elections in 12 States

With just hours left before Nigeria heads to the polls for by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states, final preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are complete, and political parties are making their last push for votes. Campaign activities officially end at midnight on Thursday but candidates and their supporters have intensified outreach as the clock winds down.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced in a Thursday statement that all logistics for the exercise are in place. He confirmed that non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the relevant states, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System has been configured, and the final batch of sensitive materials will arrive as scheduled. Olumekun appealed to political parties, their candidates, agents, supporters, voters, observers, the media, and security agencies to strictly follow electoral laws, guidelines and regulations, warning against any actions that could disrupt the process.

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 in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (two), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara. Court-ordered reruns will also take place in Enugu South I State Constituency and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano. INEC has also announced that Continuous Voter Registration will resume soon, with online pre-registration starting on August 18, 2025, and physical registration opening on August 25 at 811 centres nationwide.

From Abuja to the states, political parties are making final moves. African Democratic Congress National Chairman David Mark urged INEC to restore public trust through credible conduct, stressing that “all eyes are on the Commission to deliver a free, fair, and credible election.” In Oyo State, Social Democratic Party chairman Michael Okunlade expressed confidence in the party’s Ibadan North candidate, Islamiyat Abdulkadir, after a court cleared her to contest. In Edo, sensitive materials were moved from the CBN in Benin to seven LGAs in the presence of party representatives and civil society groups. Resident Electoral Commissioner Prof. Anugbum Onuoha described the process as seamless. Five of the nine participating parties APC, ADC, ANPP, Action Alliance, and PDP signed a peace accord, witnessed by security agencies including the Army, DSS, Customs, NDLEA, NSCDC, and Correctional Service. Edo Police Commissioner Monday Agbonika warned against any attempt to disrupt voting.

Security has been a central focus. In Adamawa, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Taiwo Adeleke warned officers against voter intimidation, urging strict neutrality. Jigawa’s Commissioner of Police, Dahiru Muhammad, announced that the state’s border with Niger Republic will be closed from midnight Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday to prevent outside interference, adding that polling units will have three-layer security and that strategic locations will be secured for the safety of voters and materials.

The Adamawa by-election in Ganye State Constituency follows the death of its representative, Abdulmalik Jauro, in May 2024, while the Ibadan North Federal Constituency election comes after the passing of two-term lawmaker Musiliudeen Akinremi in July 2024. In Zamfara, the APC accused Governor Dauda Lawal of plotting to deploy outlawed Yansakai vigilantes to intimidate voters in Kaura-Namoda South. Party spokesman Yusuf Idris claimed the group was being equipped with uniforms and firearms to secure a PDP victory. The Governor’s aide, Mustafa Jafaru, dismissed the allegation as baseless, saying Lawal had banned political thuggery since taking office in 2023 and that the PDP would win on the strength of the governor’s record.

Across all states, security agencies have pledged to work together to protect polling units, officials, and materials, assuring voters of a peaceful environment to exercise their rights on Saturday.