The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to political parties, candidates and all stakeholders participating in the Saturday bye-elections to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines.

INEC, in a statement by the national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, on Thursday in Abuja, said that doing so would ensure seamless processes.

Mr Olumekun said that the commission, at its regular weekly meeting on Thursday, discussed its final presentation for the bye-election, among other matters.

He said that the commission also discussed the resumption of continuous voter registration (CVR) and the publication of the personal particulars of candidates for the Feb. 21, 2026, area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Olumekun disclosed that all non-sensitive materials for the bye-elections had been delivered to the affected states, while election technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), had been configured for the exercise.

“The recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, as well as security and logistics arrangements, have been concluded. The final consignment of sensitive materials will be delivered today as scheduled.

“The commission wishes to remind political parties and candidates that campaigns end at midnight today, Thursday, Aug. 14.

“With less than 48 hours to the opening of polls, the commission reiterates its appeal to all those involved in the bye-elections, as political parties, candidates, voters, party agents, observers and the media to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines.

“Doing so will ensure seamless processes,” he said.

The bye-elections, scheduled for Saturday, will be held in 16 constituencies across 12 states of the federation.

The bye-elections involve 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 (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara States.

The bye-elections were occasioned by the resignation or death of serving members of the national and state assemblies.

On the resumption of CVR, Mr Olumekun reminded Nigerians that the exercise would resume on Aug. 18 nationwide with the online pre-registration of voters.

He added that the physical or in-person registration would follow on Aug. 25 at all the 811 INEC state and local government offices across the country.

Mr Olumekin said that the list and locations of the centres, including dedicated telephone numbers for citizens in need of assistance, could be obtained from the INEC website and other online platforms.

According to him, the active CVR locator will go live on Aug. 17.

“During the CVR, citizens will also have the opportunity to transfer their registration within a state or to other states of the federation. Similarly, damaged or lost PVCs will be replaced as provided by law.

“It needs to be re-emphasised that the CVR is only open to Nigerian citizens who are 18 years or older, and who have not registered before, as double or multiple registration is a punishable offence under the law,” he said.

On the FCT Area council elections, Mr Olumekun stated that 17 political parties had uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms as at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.

He said that in line with the provisions of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission would, on Aug. 18, publish the personal particulars of the candidates by displaying copies of their Form EC9.

The publication, he said, would be done along with all the accompanying academic credentials and other documents submitted by the candidates in all INEC offices in the six area councils of the FCT.

“The 17 parties participating in the election nominated 637 candidates for the 68 seats (six chairmen and 62 councillors) in the FCT,” he said.

Mr Olumekun appealed to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents.

“Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“The final list of candidates will be published on 22nd September, 2025, which is at least 150 days before the day of the election,” he said.

This, he added, was in line with the provisions of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and listed as item seven on the INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the elections.

Mr Olumekun pledged that INEC would continue to update Nigerians on all its activities.

(NAN)