Mixed Outcomes as INEC Holds By-Elections Across 12 States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, August 16, 2025, conducted by-elections and re-runs across 16 constituencies in 12 states to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies. The exercise was marked by a blend of peaceful turnouts in some areas and disruptions in others, with early results pointing to mixed fortunes for Nigeria’s leading political parties.

In Adamawa, the Ganye State Assembly by-election recorded massive voter turnout, with reports indicating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) maintained a comfortable lead. Edo State also witnessed a largely peaceful process in both Ovia Federal Constituency and Edo Central Senatorial District, despite delays caused by slow BVAS accreditation, as the APC appeared to consolidate its hold in the state. In Oyo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made significant gains in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, where its candidate, Folajimi Oyekunle, defeated his APC rival at the polling unit, a result the PDP described as credible and transparent even as the APC lamented low voter participation. Kaduna produced a more complex picture as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) claimed victory in two out of three bye-elections, while the PDP alleged that its candidate and supporters had been abducted. Security operatives in the state also confirmed the arrest of a suspect with nearly ₦26 million believed to have been earmarked for vote-buying.

The exercise in Ogun was overshadowed by arrests after police intercepted INEC officials and PDP members in possession of large sums of cash. Kano recorded one of the most turbulent scenes, with authorities confirming the arrest of hundreds of suspected political thugs as both APC and PDP demanded the cancellation of results in some constituencies. Meanwhile, other by-elections held in Anambra, Plateau, Benue, Yobe, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Niger were largely peaceful, though parties traded accusations of vote-buying and voter intimidation.

Nationwide, the police confirmed the arrest of at least 288 suspected thugs alongside party agents and INEC staff implicated in electoral offences. Vote-buying allegations surfaced in Oyo, Anambra, Adamawa, and Ogun, while the BVAS accreditation delays in Edo also drew criticism. With results declared so far, the APC appears to be strengthening its foothold in Edo and Adamawa, the PDP has shown resilience in Oyo, and the ADC has recorded notable wins in Kaduna. Official results are expected from INEC in the coming days, but the by-elections once again highlighted Nigeria’s electoral contradictions, where orderly voting and violent disruptions occurred side by side.