The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it will present Certificates of Return to winners of the federal legislative seats from last Saturday’s bye-elections.
This was disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to him, “In line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC will present Certificates of Return to Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as the five newly elected members of the House of Representatives, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at its national headquarters in Abuja.”
The constituencies for the House of Representatives include Ovie North East and Ovie South West in Edo State, Babura/Garki in Jigawa State, Chikun/Kajuru in Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North in Ogun State, and Ibadan North in Oyo State.
For state constituencies, INEC explained that Certificates of Return would be issued by Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in their respective states on Friday, August 22, 2025. The affected constituencies are Ganye in Adamawa, Onitsha North 1 in Anambra, Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye in Kaduna, Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa in Kano, Okura in Kogi, Munya in Niger, and Karim Lamido 1 in Taraba.
The Commission confirmed that declarations and returns had been successfully made in two senatorial districts, all five federal constituencies, and eight state constituencies. However, the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency election in Zamfara State remains inconclusive.
The Returning Officer reported that he was unable to make a declaration due to violence that disrupted voting in five polling units across two wards. A total of 3,572 registered voters were affected, with 3,265 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) already collected.
“Since the margin of lead was 1,662 less than the number of affected voters, the Commission invoked Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022 to order a supplementary poll. The supplementary election has been fixed for Thursday, August 21, 2025, in the affected polling units,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, INEC confirmed that two re-run elections earlier ordered by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals in Enugu and Kano states have now been concluded after disruptions caused by violence. In Enugu South 1 State Constituency, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared the winner, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.
What you should know
The latest round of bye-elections saw INEC successfully declare winners across most constituencies, but the Kaura Namoda South seat in Zamfara remains unresolved due to electoral violence.
Certificates of Return will be issued to winners on August 21 and 22, solidifying their mandates.
