The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to present Certificates of Return to candidates who emerged victorious in the 16 by-elections and two court-ordered re-run polls conducted nationwide on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
According to INEC, the elections covered two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state assembly constituencies. In line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, successful candidates will receive their Certificates of Return as a formal conclusion of the electoral process.
The presentation ceremony for senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect will take place at INEC’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Certificates of Return will be issued to the winners of the Anambra South and Edo Central senatorial districts, as well as five federal constituencies across Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States.
For state assembly members-elect, presentations will be conducted at INEC state offices on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The constituencies include Ganye (Adamawa), Onitsha North 1 (Anambra), Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye (Kaduna), Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano), Okura (Kogi), Munya (Niger), and Karim Lamido 1 (Taraba).
INEC confirmed that results were declared in all but one constituency. The Kaura Namoda South State Constituency in Zamfara remains inconclusive due to violent disruptions at five polling units across two registration areas. With 3,572 registered voters in the affected units—3,265 of whom collected their PVCs—the margin of lead stood at 1,662 votes.
Citing Sections 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, the commission fixed a supplementary election for Thursday, August 21, 2025, in the five affected polling units: Shiyar Magaji/Kofar Hamza, Tukasu/Sabuwar Kasuwa, Kofar Fada/Shiyar Fada, Alko/Shiyar Tudu, and SH/Nufawa/Kofar M. D. Nuhu.
The statement also confirmed the successful conclusion of two re-run elections ordered by election tribunals. In Enugu, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party won the Enugu South 1 State Constituency seat, while in Kano, Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner of the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency.
Olumekun emphasized that the Commission remained committed to ensuring credible and transparent elections across the country despite challenges of violence and disruption.
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