Over the last weekend, specifically on Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted bye-elections in 16 federal and state constituencies, as well as senatorial districts, across 12 states of the federation. The bye-elections filled vacancies left by resignations or deaths of members in the national and state assemblies. Affected states include
Over the last weekend, specifically on Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted bye-elections in 16 federal and state constituencies, as well as senatorial districts, across 12 states of the federation.
The bye-elections filled vacancies left by resignations or deaths of members in the national and state assemblies. Affected states include Jigawa, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Enugu, and Zamfara. The polls involved two senatorial districts (Anambra, Edo), five federal constituencies (Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo), and nine state constituencies across several of these states.
The poll was also held because Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (APC, formerly YPP) died in July 2024, leaving Anambra South’s Senate seat vacant. While the Edo Central’s seat became open after Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC) was elected governor of Edo State.
Also, court-ordered rerun elections took place in Enugu South 1 and Kano’s Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituencies. In Kaduna’s Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, a vacancy arose last year due to the death of former member Ekene Adams.
With the 2027 elections approaching, stakeholders and observers are considering how recent by-elections may influence the upcoming election process.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 12 out of 16 available seats in the recent nationwide elections. APGA won two constituencies in Anambra State, while PDP and NNPP each secured one. The ADC did not win any constituency.
Observers and analysts found the election preparations impressive and contrary to expectations of malpractice seen in 2023; instead, the process was notably improved. But voters’ turnout was not impressive.
The 2025 bye-elections in Nigeria featured reports of irregularities, including confusion, violence, intimidation, and alleged electoral malpractices across the country.
A key event in the election was the reported violence, arrests of PDP leaders, INEC officials, and 288 thugs in Ogun, Kano, and Kaduna, along with allegations of vote-buying. According to several reports, security operatives detained two individuals, including the state PDP chairman, Abayomi Tella, who were found with significant amounts of cash allegedly intended for vote-buying during the Remo Federal Constituency House of Representatives by-election.
The Kaduna Police Command reported arresting a suspected vote buyer in Kaduna with N25,963,000. DSP Mansir Hassan stated that the suspect admitted the money was for influencing voters.
Another factor affecting the elections was the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), which caused delays in the process in Edo Central Senatorial District.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, of Edo State, commented after voting that although the process was peaceful, BVAS machines from INEC were slow and caused delays. He said, “I just voted. The BVAS is too slow; accreditation takes too long. INEC should address this. Overall, reports are positive.”
Opposition parties, including the PDP and ADC, criticised the bye-elections, citing malpractices and claiming that the polls lacked the integrity promised by INEC.
The African Democratic Congress, via spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the election process as flawed and irregular, asserting that it reflects systemic corruption rather than the opposition coalition’s capabilities.
“What Nigerians witnessed in yesterday’s by-elections is yet another reminder that under the current administration, democracy itself, just like the economy and our national security, continues to decline under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.
“When elections are marred by widespread violence, when ballots are openly and brazenly exchanged for money, when opposition candidates are excluded without explanation, and when the very institutions entrusted to safeguard democracy become complicit, then the vote of the ordinary Nigerian ceases to have meaning.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, Chris Nehikhare, Elections Secretary to the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, said the party rejected the results circulated by INEC.
He characterised the exercise as problematic for democratic processes and expressed concerns regarding the management of the electoral commission, suggesting that its leadership should be replaced due to perceived incompetence. He stated that the issues observed were not merely technical failures but alleged deliberate actions affecting the process, claiming they resulted in an advantage for the APC and compromised the integrity of the election.
“In any responsible society, the management of INEC would by now have been sacked and prosecuted for repeatedly compromising the electoral process.”
Repeated complaints about the 2023 general election and the just-concluded bye-elections have raised concerns among political analysts and stakeholders about the credibility of the 2027 elections, as recurring issues continue to challenge Nigeria’s electoral process.
