Registered voters in 13 states across the country will, today, head to the polls to elect new representatives in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the by-elections are expected to be held in 16 constituencies.
The states are Jigawa, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Enugu, and Zamfara.
INEC said the final consignment of sensitive materials was deployed to locations on Thursday.
It disclosed that the by-elections involve two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo states, five Federal Constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states, and nine Ctate constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara states.
It said the by-elections were caused by the resignation or death of serving members of the national and state assemblies.
The Anambra Central seat in the Senate became vacant in July 2024 following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
That of Edo Central became open after the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State.
“Similarly, the court-ordered re-run election in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Anambra State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State will be held simultaneously with the by-elections.
“All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the States. Election technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has been configured for the election. The recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, as well as security and logistics arrangements, have been concluded.
“The commission wishes to remind political parties and candidates that campaigns end at midnight today, Thursday, August 14, 2025,” a statement by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, partly read.
Tight security, restriction of movement in affected areas
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12am to 6pm on election day within affected local government areas.
Egbetokun said those on essential services, including officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accredited media, and electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters, were exempted.
The IGP reiterated the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
He also ordered the deployment of senior officers to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
The senior officers deployed are of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police, and are expected to assist the Commissioners of police in the affected states.
Officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department, and other tactical units have also been deployed.
“Sequel to the forthcoming by-election in 13 states across the federation scheduled to hold tomorrow, August 16, 2025, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has reiterated his earlier directives on the deployment of operational logistics to the affected states and local government areas where the elections would hold to provide an enabling environment for a free and fair elections.
“To ensure smooth elections, the IGP has directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to assist state commissioners of police to ensure proper supervision over the electoral process for a smooth and hitch free election, while officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department and other tactical units have equally been deployed,” a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Ogunjobi, read in part.
He also noted that state-established and owned security outfits or organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits were also barred from participating in election security management.
The police chief urged all officers deployed for the special duty to ensure compliance with the NPF standard operational protocols for elections and further urged all citizens to be law-abiding during and after the elections.
He assured that necessary security arrangements have been provided to ensure that the right to vote is not obstructed.
* Media Report